Synapse regeneration and a cure for schizophrenia
Neurodegenerative diseases have become the pandemic of our time. On the one hand, we have technically begun to “live to the age” when such diseases unfold in full force. On the other hand, by solving the problem with the regeneration of synapses or neurons, you can solve the problem with several diseases at once.
Preserving and increasing neural connections is the foundation for the development of cognitive abilities. Fortunately, both physical and mental exercise, as well as adequate fuel to fuel your activities, can help increase connections in your brain. Read about all this in community materials. Subscribe so you don't miss the latest articles!
One tablet per day for synapse regeneration
Spinogenix company developed a druga single dose taken daily, triggers the regeneration of lost connections between nerve cells in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The company now intends to use this connection also for creating a new method treatment of schizophrenia. A detailed analysis of the first study is described here.
This is a project of the biopharmaceutical company Spinogenix Inc., which conducted early clinical trials of a drug called SPG302 for the treatment of a fatal nervous system disease, namely amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Don't let the name scare you, it's the same aniracetam was originally known as Ro 13-5057. And the first tests of SPG302 gave concrete results.
Spinogenix is now preparing to begin clinical trials of SPG302 to evaluate the drug's effectiveness in treating another serious and debilitating disease: schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia and neural connections
We are pleased to present the first clinical therapy capable of reversing synapse loss in schizophrenia, which could provide much-needed progress in relieving multiple symptoms and helping treatment-resistant patients.
Dr. Stella Sarraf, CEO and Founder of Spinogenix.
Schizophrenia is a serious, chronic mental illness that affects the way people think, feel and perceive the world around them. Its distinctive feature is psychosis, which unfolds, engulfing a person’s consciousness and literally tearing him away from reality. Schizophrenia presents with “positive symptoms” such as hallucinations, delusions and disorganized speech, “negative symptoms” such as social isolation, inability to feel pleasure (anhedonia), apathy and lack of emotion, and cognitive symptoms such as problems with memory, attention and reasoning abilities.
Increased dopamine activity in some parts of the brain may contribute to positive symptoms. Against, decreased dopamine activity in other parts it provides negative and cognitive symptoms. Although antipsychotic drugs that block dopamine receptors can reduce the symptoms of psychosis, they do not cure it. And for some people, antipsychotics don't work at all.
How the authors see the regeneration of synapses and getting rid of schizophrenia
Antipsychotics that target dopamine signaling have been used since the 1950s to control positive symptoms, but for many patients this approach is not helpful in controlling psychosis and has little effect on negative and cognitive symptoms. As demonstrated by the expected entry of promising new antipsychotics into the schizophrenia treatment field, we are at a bifurcation point where new targets and new approaches such as SPG302 offer better outcome and meaningful improvements for this population.
Dr. Stella Sarraf, CEO and Founder of Spinogenix.
Billed as a regenerative drug, SPG302 has the unique ability to restore critical synapses, the connections through which neurons communicate. Previous research has suggested that schizophrenia is associated with the loss of glutaminergic synapses, the main excitatory synapses in the brain that use the amino acid glutamate as a neurotransmitter. Signals sent through excitatory synapses increase the activity of the receiving neuron; signals sent through inhibitory synapses decrease it. Also, exactly substances from the racetam group are aimed at indirectly increasing the sensitivity of glutamate receptors. Thanks to its mode of action, SPG302 is precisely what restores glutaminergic synapses. This is a completely new approach.
The synaptic regenerative approach supported by Spinogenix adds an important new tool to the drug arsenal to combat schizophrenia. Although it has long been thought that it could have potential benefits in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases specifically, in practice, targeting synaptic loss gives rise to an entirely new therapeutic strategy. SPG302 has the potential to become a valuable drug in the field of schizophrenia treatment.
Dr. Merv Turner, Member of the Board of Directors of Spinogenix.
Having received approval from the Australian Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC), Spinogenix is actively recruiting participants for a phase 2 clinical trial to evaluate the safety, efficacy, tolerability and pharmacodynamics of SPG302 in a once-daily dosing regimen as a treatment for schizophrenia.
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