Novel and promising mechanism of action for new neuropathic pain candidate iQ-007 confirmed

Delaware – November 2021, iQure Pharma Inc. (iQure), a company dedicated to the development of new pain management therapeutics, can confirm that the mechanism of action of its new neuropathic pain candidate, iQ-007, is through positive allosteric modulation (PAM) of a key glutamate neurotransporter.

iQ-007 is a promising therapeutic candidate being developed for the treatment of Neuropathic Pain and Epilepsy. iQ-007 exhibited a superior safety profile with promising efficacy results during in vivo testing.

One of the limiting factors in epilepsy and pain management treatments, like drug-resistant epilepsy, childhood epilepsy and painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy, are the debilitating central side effects limiting use in the current standard of care. Company asset iQ-007 has been extensively evaluated by prestigious the NIH ETSP program and showed a surprisingly good safety profile, while maintaining excellent and broad efficacy. Recent experiments confirmed that iQ-007 acts as a positive allosteric modulator of naturally occurring neuromodulator EAAT2. Through this unique mechanism, it enhances the natural glutamate uptake preventing neurotoxicity, often associated with epilepsy and neuropathic pain.

Pawel Zolnierczyk, Chief Executive Officer:

We are extremally glad to receive these results which substantiate previous findings with respect to efficacy and safety, where iQ-007 showed significant efficacy with virtually no side effects. As iQ-007 showed no interaction with any of the typical CNS targets, we are now confident that iQ-007 is acts not through inhibition of usual CNS pathways, but by enhancing the human body’s natural ‘safety’ system. With this unique profile, iQ-007 has tremendous opportunity to make a positive contribution to the treatment of pain, epilepsy and potentially other EAAT2 mediated diseases. We are now focused on a series of value confirming studies which will help to optimize the asset’s market positioning. We are very fortunate to be able to work with the highly respected research group led by Prof. Krzysztof Kaminski from Jagiellonian University, whose work led to the current determination of iQ-007’s mechanism of action.

iQ-008 Accepted into NIH Preclinical Screening Platform for Pain (PSPP)

Delaware – May 2021, iQure Pharma Inc. (iQure), a company dedicated to the development of new pain management therapeutics, is proud to announce that its lead asset iQ-008, has been accepted into the prestigious NIH PSPP (part of the NIH HEAL InitiativeSM) program to identify and profile non-addictive therapeutics for pain.

iQ-008, a Triple Action Agent, is a promising therapeutic candidate being developed for the treatment of Neuropathic Pain. iQ-008 is a rationally designed multitargeting compound which in preclinical efficacy screening showed very promising profile in all in vivo pain models.

The Helping to End Addiction Long-term InitiativeSM, or NIH HEAL InitiativeSM, is an aggressive, trans-agency effort to speed scientific solutions to stem the national opioid public health crisis. The PSPP is an efficient, rigorous, one-stop screening resource to accelerate discovery of effective, non-addictive, non-opioid pain therapies. The program consists of a fully NIH-funded, stepwise testing approach, including an assessment of in vitro binding studies and pharmacokinetic profiles, side effect profiles, abuse liability, and efficacy in models relevant to human pain conditions.

Company signed Agreement with University of Arizona for non-opioid treatment of post-operative pain

Delaware – February 2021, iQure Pharma Inc. (iQure), a company dedicated to the development of novel therapeutics in the area of pain management, entered into a Patent Option Agreement to evaluate a University of Arizona technology for novel non-opioid treatment aiming to replace opioid treatments for post-operative pain.

University researchers, led by professor of chemistry and biochemistry Robin Polt, Ph.D., and with significant contributions from John Streicher, Ph.D., assistant professor of pharmacology and neuroscience, have developed a series of potent oxytocin analogues. Initial results show the technology’s potential for pain management in treating post-operative pain, lower back pain as well as pain experienced under PTSD-like conditions. Under the agreement, iQure Pharma has the right to exercise the option, followed by a negotiation period to complete the license.

iQure worked with Tech Launch Arizona, the office of the University of Arizona that commercializes inventions stemming from university research and innovation, to execute the option.

Pawel Zolnierczyk, Chief Executive Officer:

We are extremely excited about this technology, its potential and unique prospect for becoming a non-opioid alternative to morphine or fentanyl, which we all know is fuelling the opioid crisis here in the US. Moreover, we would like to thank the University, the inventors and the Tech Launch Arizona team for their welcoming spirit of collaboration by agreeing to partner with us.

This opportunity for academia and industry to collaborate at such an early stage in the process, increases the chances of clinical and commercial success for this novel therapeutic. We know that patients and clinicians are desperate for novel treatment options to use as alternatives to potent opioids. At iQure Pharma, we are looking forward to working closely with the University and its researchers in the spirit of true global cooperation.