Synaptogenix Partners with LSU Health New Orleans for Spinal Cord Injury Study

Synaptogenix, Inc., an emerging biopharmaceutical company listed on Nasdaq under the ticker SNPX, has announced a strategic collaboration with the Neuroscience Center of Excellence at LSU Health New Orleans. This collaboration aims to conduct pre-clinical testing of Synaptogenix’s polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) analogs as a potential treatment for spinal cord injury (SCI). Adding to its growing intellectual property portfolio, Synaptogenix recently secured US Patent No. 12,016,837, entitled 'Halogenated Esters of Cyclopropanated Unsaturated Fatty Acids for Use in the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases,' covering its proprietary PUFA analogs.

Dr. Nicolas Bazan, Director of the Neuroscience Center of Excellence at LSU Health New Orleans, expressed enthusiasm about the new partnership. “We are excited to begin this new collaboration with Synaptogenix to test the regenerative properties of Bryostatin and related compounds on our preclinical model of Spinal Cord Injury,” he remarked. Dr. Alan Tuchman, Chief Executive Officer of Synaptogenix, also highlighted Dr. Bazan’s extensive research background in neuroprotection and brain damage, expressing optimism about the collaborative efforts to study the PUFA drug prototypes in LSU’s neuroscience lab.

Previously known as the Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute, Cognitive Research Enterprises, Inc. (CRE) had conducted earlier pre-clinical tests on these PUFA analogs. These tests showed promising results in decelerating or reversing several neurodegenerative disease processes related to Alzheimer's disease. The PUFA analogs demonstrated positive outcomes in synaptogenesis, anti-amyloid and anti-tau tangles, and prevention of neuronal death. Dr. Daniel Alkon, President and Chief Scientific Officer of Synaptogenix, emphasized the potential of these compounds as a next-generation treatment for neurodegenerative diseases.

Like Bryostatin-1, Synaptogenix’s PUFA analogs activate the enzyme PKC epsilon (PKC ε), albeit at a different site on the enzyme due to their distinct structural differences. In preclinical in vivo models, PKC ε activation has been shown to play a crucial role in slowing or reversing processes involved in stroke, Alzheimer's disease, ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), and spinal cord injury.

Synaptogenix has a history of developing novel therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, particularly focusing on its lead therapeutic candidate, Bryostatin-1. This compound has been the subject of extensive clinical and preclinical studies, especially in the context of Alzheimer's disease. Additionally, Bryostatin-1 has shown regenerative mechanisms of action in preclinical studies for other neurodegenerative disorders such as Fragile X syndrome, multiple sclerosis, stroke, and traumatic brain injury. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has also granted Orphan Drug Designation to Bryostatin-1 for treating Fragile X syndrome.

With over 1,500 individuals having been tested in cancer studies, Bryostatin-1 has a substantial safety database, which will be instrumental in designing future clinical trials. Synaptogenix continues to advance its research and development efforts to bring effective treatments for neurodegenerative diseases to the market.