Intellect Neurosciences Inc. (fka ILNS)

[montanus]

About VP20629

VP 20629 (OX1 or indole-3-propionic acid (IPA)), is a naturally occurring, small molecule that has potentanti-oxidant properties that can protect against neurodegenerative disease. ViroPharma acquired this technology from Intellect Neurosciences, Inc. in September 2011.
About Friedreich’s Ataxia
Friedreich's Ataxia (FA) is a rare hereditary disease caused by a mutation in a gene which encodes frataxin, a protein essential for proper functioning of mitochondria, the energy pumps of the cell. In the absence of frataxin, iron in the cytoplasm builds up and causes free radical damage.
The disease causes progressive damage to the nervous system, resulting in symptoms ranging from gait disturbance to speech problems; it can also lead to heart disease and diabetes. Ataxia in general refers to the inability to coordinate voluntary muscular movements. The ataxia of Friedreich's ataxia results from the degeneration of nerve tissue in the spinal cord, in particular neurons essential for directing muscle movement of the arms and legs. The spinal cord becomes thinner and nerve cells lose some of their myelin sheath. The primary sites of pathology are the spinal cord and peripheral nerves. Symptoms typically begin sometime between the ages of 5 and 15 years, but may occur in patients between the ages of 20 to 30. The disease usually presents with progressive staggering or stumbling and frequent falling. The symptoms are slow and progressive with a median age of death at 37 years old. Friedreich’s Ataxia is the most common form of hereditary ataxia, and is thought to affect about 1 in every 50,000 people or approximately 6,000 patients in the United States. Currently there are no drugs approved in the United States for FA.
Status
ViroPharma has completed Phase 2-enabling toxicology studies with VP 20629, and has initiated Phase 1b testing in patients with Friedreich's ataxia.

http://www.viropharma.it/~/~/~/link.aspx?_id=0F8E81DC6AA34A079050C7C713FD3C21&_z=z