Curonz Limited

Curonz Limited is a clinical-stage neurotherapeutics and biotechnology company based in Wellsford, New Zealand. The company describes its mission as transforming the quality of life of severely neurologically affected children and adult patients through a body-and-mind boosting drug therapy built around a modified naturally occurring molecule named NRP2945. Curonz positions itself at the intersection of peptide chemistry, neuroscience and orphan-drug development, with a patent portfolio and a platform of peptide and peptidomimetic drug candidates relevant to the treatment of severe neurodegenerative diseases. The company's lead asset, NRP2945, is a synthetic Neural Regeneration Peptide classified as a new chemical entity (NCE). According to Curonz, NRP2945 controls seizure activity while simultaneously improving comorbidity profiles in young patients diagnosed with epileptic encephalopathy syndromes such as Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome, and in adults with drug-resistant Temporal Lobe Epilepsy. The company states that the molecule acts via agonism of a novel CXCR4 receptor complex in an ultra-potent manner with no off-target effects, and that it displays a minimal adverse-event profile. Administration is by subcutaneous injection of fully formulated NRP2945 every other day, which Curonz presents as a well-tolerated dosing scheme. Curonz has advanced NRP2945 through early clinical development. It reports having completed a successful Phase I safety trial in healthy volunteers, conducted in Melbourne, with all associated reports completed in 2017. It subsequently completed a small proof-of-concept Phase II study in four drug-resistant patients with typical absence epilepsy, reporting a decrease in seizures and an increase in seizure freedom in 2019. The company has stated that, once an Investigational New Drug (IND) application is approved, NRP2945 will be studied in refractory epilepsy in children diagnosed with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome in a Phase I/II clinical study, and in adults with drug-resistant Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy (drJME) in a further Phase I/II study. Curonz's scientific approach is rooted in a phenotypic brain tissue screen used to monitor neuronal migration and to initially screen compounds for their potential to generate neural outgrowth. The company says its drugs combine regeneration of central nervous system tissue with anti-inflammatory effects through a unique mechanism of action, and it holds internationally granted patent claims for NRP2945 and other Neural Regeneration Peptides directed to neural regeneration and protection as well as seizure control in the central nervous system. Curonz states that it intends to develop its drugs with the highest possible benefit-to-cost ratio, and its ultimate aim is to contribute to the development of effective treatments for some of the most seriously debilitating central nervous system diseases and conditions. Curonz is a small, privately held company rather than a listed pharmaceutical group. Its leadership and advisory structure includes a directors group and an advisory board, and its scientific leadership has been associated with experienced neuroscientists; the company notes that Dr Sieg was formerly Principal Scientist and Team Leader of Gene Discovery and In Vitro Systems at Neuren Pharmaceuticals Ltd, where he headed the drug development program over a period of seven years. Curonz's focus on ultra-orphan indications such as Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome places it in the high-risk, high-reward segment of central nervous system drug development, where clinical proof of concept and regulatory milestones are the principal drivers of value.

Curonz Limited is a New Zealand biotechnology company based in Wellsford, north of Auckland. It was established as a clinical-stage neurotherapeutics company with a stated vision to transform the quality of life of severely neurologically affected children and adult patients. The company built its scientific platform around Neural Regeneration Peptides (NRPs) of synthetic origin, classified as new chemical entities (NCEs), and around a phenotypic brain tissue screen used to monitor neuronal migration and to initially screen compounds for their potential to generate neural outgrowth. Curonz's lead compound, NRP2945, is a modified naturally occurring molecule designed to control seizure activity while improving comorbidities. The company describes its mechanism as ultra-potent agonism of a novel CXCR4 receptor complex with no off-target effects, and it highlights a minimal adverse-event profile and an every-other-day subcutaneous injection schedule. The company's scientific leadership has been associated with experienced neuroscientists; Curonz notes that Dr Sieg was formerly Principal Scientist and Team Leader of Gene Discovery and In Vitro Systems at Neuren Pharmaceuticals Ltd, where he headed the drug development program over a period of seven years. In 2017, the clinical compound NRP2945 completed a Clinical Phase I study in healthy volunteers in Melbourne, and all associated reports were completed. In 2019, Curonz completed a successful small proof-of-concept study in four drug-resistant patients with typical absence epilepsy, showing a decrease of seizures and an increase in seizure freedom. These two milestones moved the program from first-in-human safety testing into early patient evidence. Looking ahead, Curonz has stated that in 2022, once the Investigational New Drug (IND) application is approved, NRP2945 will be studied for refractory epilepsy in children diagnosed with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS) in a Phase I/II clinical study, and for adults with drug-resistant Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy (drJME) in a further Phase I/II clinical study. Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome is described by the company as a refractory childhood epilepsy falling under the ultra-orphan drug designation and classified as an epileptic encephalopathy. Curonz holds internationally granted patent claims for NRP2945 and other NRPs directed to neural regeneration and protection as well as seizure control in the central nervous system. The company states that its unique mechanism of action produces both regeneration of CNS tissue and anti-inflammatory effects. Its stated business intent is to develop its drugs with the highest possible benefit-to-cost ratio, and its ultimate aim is to contribute to the development of effective treatments for some of the most seriously debilitating central nervous system diseases and conditions. As a small private company, Curonz operates with a directors group and an advisory board, and its progress is tied to clinical trial outcomes and regulatory approvals rather than to marketed products.

• 2022

  Planned Phase I/II clinical study of NRP2945 for refractory epilepsy in children diagnosed with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome, contingent on IND approval.

• 2022

  Planned Phase I/II clinical study of NRP2945 for adults with drug-resistant Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy (drJME), contingent on IND approval.

• 2019

  Completed a successful small proof-of-concept study in four drug-resistant patients with typical absence epilepsy, showing a decrease of seizures and an increase in seizure freedom.

• 2017

  NRP2945 completed a Clinical Phase I study in healthy volunteers in Melbourne, with all associated reports completed.

Clinical-stage neurotherapeutics company focused on ultra-orphan and refractory central nervous system indications, developing peptide drugs with a claimed dual regenerative and anti-inflammatory mechanism.

• NRP2945

  Lead synthetic Neural Regeneration Peptide (NCE) administered by subcutaneous injection every other day; acts via agonism of a novel CXCR4 receptor complex; studied for Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome, drug-resistant Temporal Lobe Epilepsy, absence epilepsy and drug-resistant Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy.

• Neural Regeneration Peptides (NRPs) platform

  Platform of synthetic peptide and peptidomimetic drug candidates with internationally granted patent claims directed to neural regeneration and protection as well as seizure control in the central nervous system.

1. 1Curonz Limitedcuronz.com
2. 2About Curonz Limitedcuronz.com
3. 3Curonz (New Zealand) - Wikidatawikidata.org