GeNeuro S.A.. (2/7/17). "Press Release: GeNeuro Signs CRADA Agreement with NIH to Develop Novel Antibody Treatment for ALS".

	Region	United States (USA)
	Organisation	GeNeuro S.A. (Euronext Paris: GNRO)
	Product	therapeutic antibody
	Product 2	preclinical research
	Person	Sinclair, Mike (Halsin Partners 201110 Partner + Co-founder before Burns McClellan)

Partnership focuses on antibodies targeting HERV-K, a potential ALS causal factor

GeNeuro (Euronext Paris: CH0308403085 – GNRO), a biopharmaceutical company developing new treatments for neurological disorders and autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS), announced today the signing of a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), to develop novel therapeutic antibodies for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The research will evaluate the ability of these antibodies to neutralise a potential causal factor of ALS, the envelope protein of HERV-K (a family of Human Endogenous Retroviruses, HERVs).

Under the terms of the agreement, GeNeuro will provide antibodies designed to block the activity of HERV-K envelope protein. These candidate antibodies will be tested in cellular and animal models of HERV-K associated ALS by the NINDS with the aim to achieve preclinical proof-of-concept of this novel therapeutic avenue addressing ALS pathogenesis.

“This agreement truly combines the strengths of both parties; the pioneering work done by GeNeuro in the HERV field, especially in the development of antibodies able to neutralize HERV encoded proteins in associated diseases, and the excellent NIH research on the involvement of HERV-K in sporadic ALS led by Dr. Avindra Nath and his group,” said Hervé Perron, Chief Scientific Officer at GeNeuro. “With this partnership, we aim to show that blocking this pathogenic HERV protein could lead to a novel ALS treatment and, in time, expand the GeNeuro clinical pipeline into additional neurological disorders.”

Dr. Nath and his research group recently discovered the targeted expression and the pathogenic effects of the envelope protein from HERV-K in ALS1. Furthermore, the NIH team has developed cellular and transgenic mouse models that can be used to evaluate the anti-HERV-K antibodies as therapeutics candidates to treat ALS. “We are excited about this collaboration as an initial step towards developing a therapeutic approach for altering the course of the disease for patients with ALS,” said Dr. Nath, clinical director at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).

About ALS

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease or clinically as motor neuron disease, is a fatal, rapidly progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by loss of motor neurons. The incidence of ALS is approximately 1-3 per 100,000 individuals, and is consistent across diverse populations.

1 Science Translational Medicine (30 Sep 2015) “Human endogenous retrovirus-K contributes to motor neuron disease”

About GeNeuro

GeNeuro‘s mission is to develop safe and effective treatments against neurological disorders and autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, by neutralizing causal factors encoded by HERVs, which represent 8% of human DNA.
GeNeuro is based in Geneva, Switzerland and has R&D facilities in France at sites in Archamps, Haute-Savoie and in Lyon. It has 30 employees and rights to 16 patent families protecting its technology. For more information, visit: www.geneuro.com

GeNeuro’s contacts:

GeNeuro
Jesús Martin-Garcia
Chairman and CEO
+41 22 794 50 85
investors@geneuro.com

NewCap (France)
Julien Perez (investors)
+33 1 44 71 98 52
Nicolas Merigeau (media)
+33 1 44 71 94 98
geneuro@newcap.eu

Halsin Partners
Mike Sinclair (media)
+44 20 7318 2955
msinclair@halsin.com

LifeSci Advisors
Chris Maggos (investors)
+1 646 597 6970
+41 79 367 6254
chris@lifesciadvisors.com

Disclaimer

This press release contains certain forward - looking statements and estimates concerning GeNeuro’s financial condition, operating results, strategy, projects and future performance and the markets in which it operates. Such forward-looking statements and estimates may be identified by words, such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “can,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “is designed to,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “objective,” “should,” or the negative of these and similar expressions. They incorporate all topics that are not historical facts. Forward looking statements, forecasts and estimates are based on management’s current assumptions and assessment of risks, uncertainties and other factors, known and unknown, which were deemed to be reasonable at the time they were made but which may turn out to be incorrect. Events and outcomes are difficult to predict and depend on factors beyond the company’s control. Consequently, the actual results, financial condition, performances and/or achievements of GeNeuro or of the industry may turn out to differ materially from the future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by these statements, forecasts and estimates. Owing to these uncertainties, no representation is made as to the correctness or fairness of these forward-looking statements, forecasts and estimates. Furthermore, forward-looking statements, forecasts and estimates speak only as of the date on which they are made, and GeNeuro undertakes no obligation to update or revise any of them, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Record changed: 2023-06-05