In the 1990s, Daryl Hochman and his colleagues discovered that an existing class of safe drugs blocked seizures in laboratory models, potentially more than any existing antiseizure medications (ASM).
NeuroPro’s lead molecule, NPT 2042, is one of these drug candidates. The nonclinical data suggest that NPT 2042 may be more efficacious than existing ASMs, and without serious side effects.
Several small studies evaluating currently marketed NKCC antagonists in epileptic patients have been performed over the past 50 years providing the foundation and rationale for pursuing the development of NPT 2042.
The effect of bumetanide on epileptic spiking compared with a standard of care treatment levetiracetam (Keppra®).
These tracings demonstrate that bumetanide (Panel A) and Keppra (Panel B) both suppress epileptic spiking elicited by treatment of the primate cortex with bicuculline.
A Phase 1 safety study conducted in healthy subjects completed March 2023. No untoward safety issues were observed and no evidence of diuresis was observed. The results support advancing development of NPT 2042 in epilepsy patients in a Phase 2 study.
The primary objective of the Phase 2 study is to assess the efficacy of NPT 2042 compared with placebo as an adjunctive treatment for focal-onset epilepsy.
If you would like to participate in the clinical study as an investigator, enroll one of your patients in a clinical trial, or identify patients to participate please contact NeuroPro. The Phase 2 clinical study is planned to begin in 2024. There will be an option for patients to participate in an open-label extension.
NPT 2042 is being developed as a chronic treatment to control the frequency and magnitude of seizure activity without the common side effects of current antiseizure medications (ASM).
Based on our initial human exposure data and mechanism of action, NPT 2042 is intended to be a standalone option for first-line therapy or when polytherapy is needed without risk of untoward central nervous system effects. This allows patients to participate in activities they avoid on current therapies.
NPT 2042 is advancing to Phase 2 and testing safety and efficacy in patients with focal-onset epilepsy.
Adult patients with focal-onset epilepsy that is not adequately controlled on their current ASM regimen are eligible to enroll. Seizures will be classified using the ILAE 2017 classification scheme.
NeuroPro Therapeutics is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company actively developing proprietary compounds to treat neurologic diseases, including epilepsy.
