Biotechnology company Neuro-Innovators has dosed its first patient in a clinical study evaluating its pharmacotherapy in individuals living with chronic stroke-related disability.
“Recovery following stroke is one of the greatest unmet challenges in rehabilitation medicine,” said Dr Paolo Bonato, director of the Motion Analysis laboratory at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, where the patient was dosed. “This study represents an important opportunity to evaluate whether combining a biologically targeted therapeutic approach with intensive rehabilitation can enhance neuroplasticity and, thereby, improve functional recovery.
The study evaluates whether a polytherapeutic regimen combined with intensive rehabilitation could potentially improve stroke recovery. It evaluates Neuro-Innovator’s therapeutic regimen, combining telmisartan, metformin, and cilostazol (NIV-001) in patients undergoing intensive robot-assisted upper-extremity rehabilitation.
The therapeutic approach was developed around the concept that recovery following neurological injury involves multiple interconnected biological processes. NIV-001 is designed to simultaneously support biological pathways associated with recovery, including neurogenesis, angiogenesis and bioenergetics, while modulating inflammation.
“While there have been advances in rehabilitation, many stroke survivors continue to experience long-term disability,” said Neuro-Innovators CEO Howison Schroeder. “We think NIV-001 represents a compelling opportunity to explore whether concurrently managing multiple biological pathways involved in recovery may create an improved environment for neurological restoration.”
Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital is recruiting up to 50 subjects for the study.
