NRG Therapeutics Selects Domainex to be its Integrated Drug Discovery Partner for its Biomedical Catalyst Funded Parkinson’s Disease Project

Cambridge and Stevenage, United Kingdom, 30 June 2022 / NRG Therapeutics Ltd., an innovative neuroscience company targeting mitochondrial dysfunction, and Domainex Ltd., today announce a collaboration focused on developing novel small molecule disease-modifying medicines for the treatment of Parkinson's disease, motor neuron disease (MND) and other debilitating chronic neurodegenerative disorders. Domainex, a leading integrated medicines research services partner, will provide fully integrated lead optimization services including assay biology and medicinal and computational chemistry.

The collaboration is anticipated to be undertaken over a one-year period, with NRG Therapeutics potentially investing over £1 million in the project. The programme is being made possible following NRG recieving a £2.68 million early-stage Biomedical Catalyst (BMC) award funded by government-backed agency Innovate UK.

Previous work carried out by NRG Therapeutics, which was funded by Parkinson’s Virtual Biotech, the drug development arm of Parkinson’s UK, has led to the identification of a number of small molecule lead series which inhibit mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP). The mPTP is a transmembrane protein located in the mitochondrial inner membrane which is critical for cell signalling and regulated cell death. Inhibition of mPTP in brain cells has been shown to be neuroprotective in several preclinical models of Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.

NRG and Domainex will conduct an integrated lead optimisation programme in order to optimise the pharmaceutical properties of small-molecule mPTP inhibitors, with the ultimate aim of nominating a pre-clinical candidate for the treatment of Parkinson’s or motor neuron disease (MND). This project follows several projects Domainex has worked on that have been funded by Innovate UK, such as a project targeting IKKƐ/TBK1 for the treatment of inflammatory disease. Domainex also received Innovate UK funding to develop its PoLiPa technology.

“We are thrilled to have been selected by NRG Therapeutics to work on this exciting project,” said Tom Mander, CEO of Domainex. “We hope that this programme will result in a new treatment for neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s, which will ultimately benefit patients who desperately need new treatment options for these devasting diseases.”

Dr Neil Miller, Co-Founder and CEO of NRG Therapeutics, said: “Mitochondrial dysfunction is a common underlying pathology in many degenerative diseases and there is a substantial body of preclinical data available which demonstrates that inhibition of the mPTP in the brain prevents neuronal cell death, reduces neuroinflammation and extends survival in animals. We look forward to working with Domainex to progress the development of these compounds into potentially life-changing medicines.”

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Notes to editors

About Domainex Ltd. Domainex is a leading, multi-award-winning, integrated medicines research service partner working with ambitious life science organizations around the globe. We have been setting new standards in research since 2001, working collaboratively with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, patient foundations and leading academic institutions to discover ground-breaking new medicines.

Domainex provides innovative and customized biology and chemistry services to advance the disease research projects of its partners, from target expression to pre-clinical development candidate nomination. Working with us maximizes the chance of successful progression. Our innovative science and extensive technical capabilities enable us to produce novel candidate medicines to treat debilitating diseases on behalf of our clients who we work closely and collaboratively with. We bring ideas, know-how and a wealth of experience to bear. 

Domainex’s highly qualified and experienced team of dedicated research scientists has an unrivalled breadth of knowledge, access to a wide range of technologies and a proven track record of successful innovation in solving research challenges, including supporting the advancement of a number of projects into pre-clinical and clinical development. We aim to deliver successful outcomes efficiently and quickly, setting the highest possible benchmark in medicines research.

Full information about Domainex and its award-winning services can be found at www.domainex.co.uk. 

About NRG Therapeutics – http://www.nrgtherapeutics.com

NRG Therapeutics is a neuroscience drug discovery company building a pipeline of disease modifying drug candidates, focused on therapeutic approaches that will restore mitochondrial function and slow or halt the progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and MND, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) as it is also known. 

The company’s pre-clinical pipeline of small molecule assets is based on inhibiting the mitochondrial permeability transition pore. Inhibition of the mPTP has been shown to protect neurons, reduce neuroinflammation and extend survival in pre-clinical disease models.

Based in Cambridge, UK, NRG Therapeutics is a private company with equity investment from the Parkinson’s Virtual Biotech, the drug development arm of Parkinson’s UK, and grant funding from Innovate UK and charitable organisations including The Michael J. Fox Foundation.

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