Neuro3d receives support for development of ND1251

French biopharmaceutical company Neuro3d has been granted €900,000 in funding by ANVAR, the French Agency for Innovation, to support further clinical development of the phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor ND1251 as a potential treatment of depression.

This amount is in addition to the earlier strong financial support for the preclinical development of ND1251 and the phase I development of the company's lead antipsychotic compound ocaperidone.

Phase I trials with ND1251 were recently initiated to establish the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics, as well as to demonstrate activity in the brain. ND1251 is a very potent compound with a large therapeutic window. In animal models, it does not exhibit the typical side effects, such as emesis and sedation that prevented the clinical use of previously developed PDE4 inhibitors. It also possesses a good safety profile showing no prohibitive effects on respiratory, cardiac or CNS parameters.

In preclinical studies, ND1251 has shown antidepressant, memory enhancing and anti-inflammatory effects. On the basis of these activities ND1251 may also have applications in other CNS disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, mild cognitive impairment, multiple sclerosis.

The main mission of ANVAR is to support the innovation of entrepreneurs, small and medium enterprise and industry, and research laboratories. The funding available from ANVAR allows innovators to continue with projects while at the same time, spreading the financial risk. ANVAR provides a range of support activities, in addition to potential funding, to help further develop innovation in France.