** New Drug for Stroke Patients and First Responders
THE COMPANY: ARGENICA THERAPEUTICS
Developer of a novel treatment for stroke victims Argenica Therapeutics (ASX: AGN) listed on the ASX on June 11, 2021 after a successful $7 million IPO with Alto Capital. Argenica Therapeutics (Argenica) has a market capitalisation of $14.6 million.
Argenica is developing novel therapeutics to reduce brain damage after stroke and improve patient outcomes. Our lead neuroprotective peptide candidate, ARG-007 has been successfully demonstrated to improve outcomes in pre-clinical stroke models and is in the process of being verified for its safety and toxicity before commencing Phase 1 clinical trials in humans.
The aim is for our therapeutic to be administered by first responders to protect brain tissue against damage during a stroke with further potential to enhance recovery once a stroke has taken place.
A door-to-treatment time of 60 minutes or less is the goal. This 60-minute period is often referred to as the “golden hour” of acute ischemic stroke treatment during which a focused diagnostic workup must be completed to rule out conditions that may mimic stroke as well as contraindications to rt-PA administration https://journals.lww.com/nursingcriticalcare/
THE DRUG: ARG-007
Despite considerable research, there are currently no marketed drugs capable of protecting the brain from damage following stroke
This means there is an urgent unmet need and priority to search for widely applicable and effective neuroprotective drugs for stroke patients.
Over the last 6 years Argenica’s lead scientists have been working with ARG-007 to determine its ability to reduce brain tissue death following stroke. We are hopeful that we have developed a neuroprotective drug that can be administered in the field by paramedics, and used in conjunction with endovascular therapy (thrombolysis/thrombectomy) to improve neuroprotective outcomes, and importantly increase the number of patients amenable to thrombolysis and thrombectomy.
ARG-007 Reduces Brain Tissue Death
Potent neuroprotection is observed following a single intravenous (IV) administration of ARG-007 several hours after stroke onset (mimicking the clinical situation) in three different in vivo models of stroke. Importantly, ARG-007 provided greater than 60% preservation of brain for at least 28 days post-stroke and reliably improved function preclinically. The ability of ARG-007 to slow the progression of brain injury (infarct) and preserve brain cells would increase the number of patients suitable for thrombolyisis/thrombectomy, as well as maximising the amount of available salvageable brain tissue at the time of restoring blood flow.
Based on MRI studies we have demonstrated that ARG-007 can significantly slow infarct growth and preserve salvageable penumbral tissue following MCAO stroke.
The ideal stroke therapeutic would target multiple parts of the ischaemic and excitotoxic cascade of events, as drugs affecting a single target in this cascade have not previously been effective in providing neuroprotection in stroke patients.
ARG-007 has a plurifunctional mechanism of action, affecting neuronal excitotoxicity, calcium influx and mitochondrial dysfunction, and reducing the activation of damaging proteolytic enzymes which greatly enhances its neuroprotective potential and translational clinical effectiveness.
THE CEO: DR LIZ DALLIMORE
Dr Liz Dallimore is a research & development, innovation and commercialisation specialist with over 20 years’ experience across Australia and the UK. Prior to joining Argenica Therapeutics, Dr Dallimore was the Director of the WA Data Science Innovation Hub, tasked with working across WA businesses to establish innovative data science projects. Dr Dallimore has also held senior roles in management consulting across Australia, most recently as KPMG’s National Director of Research Engagement and Commercialisation. Prior to this she held senior roles with Ernst & Young and PricewaterhouseCoopers. Dr Dallimore is a co-founder of medical device company Inspiring Holdings, sits on the AusBiotech WA Committee and is a non-executive Director of NERA, a Federal Government Growth Centre. Dr Dallimore has a PhD in Neuroscience jointly completed at Oxford University and the University of Western Australia and has worked as a neuroscientist at the Australian Neuromuscular Research Institute (now Perron Institute). In 2020, Dr Dallimore was recognised as one of Western Australia’s Top Women in Tech. ** Argenica Therapeutics Profile: https://argenica.com.au
“We would like to welcome our new shareholders and thank them for the level of interest and support we received during the capital raise. Today marks the biggest milestone in Argenica’s history as we now have a robust capital base to execute the first in-human clinical trial of our lead neuroprotective peptide ARG-007.” - CEO, Dr Liz Dallimore, Argenica Therapeutics
“Protecting vulnerable brain tissue from dying after a stroke isn’t just a highly compelling commercial opportunity, it is also a chance to truly improve the lives of millions of people who suffer from stroke globally each year. We are excited to move this project forward with support from our tier one research partners and a well credentialled team and board who
have a proven track record of success with early-stage biotechnology companies.” CEO, Dr Liz Dallimore, Argenica Therapeutics.
** Perron Institute Profile: https://www.perroninstitute.org
ARG-077: DEVELOPMENT PATHWAY
Argenica has accumulated a comprehensive body of published pre-clinical studies
demonstrating efficacy of ARG-007 in multiple models of stroke and other central nervous
system injury models, including traumatic brain injury and perinatal hypoxia ischaemia. The Company is now poised to begin the human testing phase of product development for its initial target application of acute ischaemic stroke. Argenica intends to initiate its planned
clinical program on completion of the IPO, beginning with safety and toxicology verification
before commencing a Phase 1 clinical trial in humans. The Phase I clinical trial will provide
critical data related to the safety of ARG-007 in healthy subjects, which is required for a more
comprehensive Phase II study. The funds raised under the IPO will also be used to support ongoing research and development activities in partnership with the University of Western Australia and the Perron Institute of Neurological and Translational Science. These two institutions have been the foundation on which the Argenica research has been built and both are also shareholders in the Company.
Sources: https://argenica.com.au/ | https://www.perroninstitute.org | | https://smallcaps.com.au | https://strokefoundation.org.au | https://www.thesentiment.com.au | https://www.seikagaku.co.jp | | https://www.altocapital.com.au/ | https://argenica.com.au/publications |
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What is a stroke?
What is a stroke: A stroke happens when blood supply to the brain is interrupted. Blood is carried to the brain by blood vessels called arteries. Blood contains oxygen and important nutrients for your brain cells. Blood may be interrupted or stop moving through an artery, because the artery is blocked (ischaemic stroke) or bursts (haemorrhagic stroke). When brain cells do not get enough oxygen or nutrients, they die. The area of brain damage is called a cerebral infarct.
There are two types of stroke.
Both types of stroke stop blood getting to areas of the brain:
Signs of stroke
How do you know if someone is having a stroke? Think… F.A.S.T.
The Stroke Foundation recommends the F.A.S.T. test as an easy way to remember the most common signs of stroke. Using the F.A.S.T. test involves asking these simple questions:
Face Check their face. Has their mouth drooped?
Arms Can they lift both arms?
Speech Is their speech slurred? Do they understand you?
Time Is critical. If you see any of these signs call 000 straight away. What to do while you wait for an ambulance
<<< *** DONTE TO THE STROKE FOUNDATION
ASX Announcement - Argenica Therapeutics Limited
9/12/2021 ARGENICA TO BE GRANTED PATENT PROTECTION IN THE UNITED STATES, ONE OF THE WORLD’S LARGEST HEALTHCARE MARKETS