The grant permits Diamyd to develop NTDDS-based drug candidate designed to deliver a neurotrophic factor to nerve cells.
Neurotrophic factors are a class of small proteins which promote the survival, growth, connectivity, and proper function of nerve cells and aid in recovery of nerve function following injury.
The use of NTDDS to deliver such a neurotrophic factor to cancer patients prior to initiating chemotherapy will prevent peripheral neuropathy.
The grant covers the costs for advancement of the new drug candidate through preclinical efficacy, toxicology and biodistribution studies, manufacturing and filing of an investigational new drug application with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Diamyd president Darren Wolfe said this grant will allow them to accelerate the critical steps in translating their preclinical findings in chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy into human therapy.
University of Michigan Neurology Department professor and chairman David Fink said treatment with NTDDS delivering a neurotrophic factor may not only prevent the development of Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy, but may also allow more effective chemotherapy doses to be administered to the patient.