Algernon Pharmaceuticals Announces Lead Chronic Kidney Disease Drug Repirinast Reduced Fibrosis by 56% in a Preclinical NASH Study

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Algernon Pharmaceuticals Inc. (the “Company” or “Algernon”) (CSE: AGN) (FRANKFURT: AGWO) (OTCQB: AGNPF) a clinical stage pharmaceutical development company is pleased to announce that its lead chronic kidney disease (“CKD”) drug NP-251 (“Repirinast”), reduced fibrosis by 56% with statistical significance, in a preclinical study investigating non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (“NASH”) in the STAM™ mouse model from SMC Laboratories (Japan).

Repirinast was one of multiple drugs that Algernon screened in a NASH preclinical animal study where liver tissue samples from the Repirinast treatment group underwent a pathology review using sirius red staining. The tissue analysis showed that when compared to the negative control group, Repirinast (60mg/kg QD) reduced fibrosis by 56% (p<0.0001).

The Company earlier reported, using the naming protocol NP-251, that Repirinast (30 mg/kg, TID) also reduced fibrosis by 51% vs. untreated controls (p=0.021) in its preclinical animal study of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (“IPF”). In the same study, Ifenprodil (4 mg/kg, TID) showed a 56% reduction in fibrosis vs. untreated controls (p=0.015).

Fibrotic disease is a major health problem worldwide. As the common pathological pathway to organ injury and failure, fibrosis usually represents an unsatisfactory prognosis. It is a major cause of death globally and causes substantial medical and economic burdens.¹

“When you include the CKD data, Repirinast has shown in three separate preclinical studies, that it has reduced fibrosis in three major fibrotic diseases involving three separate major human organs, all with statistical significance,” said Christopher J. Moreau, CEO of Algernon. “This data suggests that Repirinast has the potential to be an anti-fibrotic compound in multiple indications and so we look forward to advancing it into the planned Phase 1 study.”

About Repirinast

Repirinast was developed by Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma and was sold and marketed in Japan under the brand name Romet™ for the treatment of asthma. Romet™ was marketed for over 25 years in Japan and has a well-established safety history. The drug acts on mast cells and inhibits the release of chemical mediators by IgE-related antigen antibody interactions.

Intellectual Property

Algernon has filed intellectual property rights globally for Repirinast for the treatment of CKD including dosing and combination with several cholesterol-lowering or antihypertensive drugs. The Company has also filed intellectual property rights globally for Repirinast for the treatment of IPF and NASH.

About Algernon Pharmaceuticals Inc. 

Algernon is a drug re-purposing company that investigates safe, already approved drugs, including naturally occurring compounds, for new disease applications, moving them efficiently and safely into new human trials, developing new formulations and seeking new regulatory approvals in global markets. Algernon specifically investigates compounds that have never been approved in the U.S. or Europe to avoid off label prescription writing.

(1) https://www.nature.com/articles/s41420-020-00316-9

CONTACT INFORMATION

Christopher J. Moreau
CEO
Algernon Pharmaceuticals Inc.
604.398.4175 ext 701
info@algernonpharmaceuticals.com
investors@algernonpharmaceuticals.com
www.algernonpharmaceuticals.com.

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Released April 26, 2022