Company Interview / Positive steps on cardiovascular health & brain trauma

James Bonnar from Nyrada unveils their promising new drug candidate aimed at reducing heart damage, with a remarkable 86% reduction shown in animal trials. Human trials are scheduled later this year, targeting heart and brain injuries in a $3.7 billion market.

James highlights the drug's dual potential in cardioprotection and neuroprotection. Previously tested for stroke with a 42% damage reduction, it shows efficacy in traumatic brain injury. The US Department of Defense collaboration supports its development, demonstrating strong defence sector interest.

James remains optimistic about future funding opportunities, including potential non-dilutive funding due to military interest. While currently focused on preclinical safety and phase one trials, Nyrada is open to licensing and mergers when beneficial for shareholders. #ausbiz

Full unedited transcript below:

0:00

Well. Neruda's new drug candidate is showing promise in a recent rat study, reducing heart damage by 86% after blood flow was restored following a heart attack. Now, human trials are set for later in the year, aiming to tackle heart and brain injuries in this growing market worth $3.7 billion. Narada CEO James Bond. Joining me now. Tell us when the human trials start, and I guess the success you've seen so far in the rat trial.

0:27

Yeah. So we're really pleased with the the results of the study you just mentioned we were able to achieve in this model an 86% cardio protection. Um, so we see this drug as being an important development and one that'll help patients who suffer heart attacks. Um, the the studies that we're currently completing are the safety studies that we are required to do before we go into, uh, first in human studies and the first in human study is anticipated to commence, uh, at the back end of this year. So in this quarter, so you have the amount of candidates that you need for that study are ready to go.

1:05

So the phase one study is a healthy volunteer study. So recruitment we're not expecting that will will be an issue. Uh, it's the study that we need to do before we take the drug into the target patient population. And that's typically phase two. Uh, I guess what's exciting about this, this program that I'll mention is that, uh, the drug, uh, was initially conceived as a neuroprotective drug. So we've run a study in stroke, and we showed, uh, a 42% reduction in damage following stroke in, uh, in a mouse model. Uh, we're also working in collaboration with the US Department of Defense through the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. And we've currently got a study underway in traumatic brain injury. And that's due to readout early in the first quarter of 25 calendar year 25. So there's there's a lot going on. There is a lot going on. I'm just looking at that brain injury program now. So further updates there. And just

2:05

tell us what you're seeing with regards to the early research here.

2:11

Uh, so the, the, the early research, um, is confirming the drug is doing what it's designed to do. Uh, and so what this drug essentially does is it protects damage to vital organs following injury. Uh, and so I've mentioned the neuro protection side. So we're talking here about, uh, stroke and traumatic brain injury. Um, and of course, the tie up with the US military is understandable given the, the high concern there is over, you know, blast injuries and, you know, shrapnel, bullet wound injuries, the type of injuries that soldiers, uh, receive. Uh, and with, with the cardio protection, that's a new indication that we've really just recently honed in on, uh, and the the drug is, uh, is shown to be, you know, uh, protective to a high degree. We achieved an 86% protection, in cardiac tissue in the hearts of these rats that we just studied. So the drug is, you know, as I said, performing very

3:11

well. And we're looking forward to taking it into the clinic. And, and, you know, getting efficacy in humans. So, James, what would the drug actually look like in terms of how it is consumed? Because we know with these GLP one drugs, which are, um, needles, they're showing some positive signs as well in protecting against cardiovascular health.

3:31

So the the drug uh, is designed to be an acute treatment. So it'll be it'll be given, uh, immediately following the injury as soon as possible after the injury. And, uh, the, the dose form is a is an intravenous infusion. Uh, and so in the, in the rat study that we just completed, uh, that was given as an infusion over 24 hours, um, in the, uh, the stroke study that I mentioned that showed efficacy, uh, we administered that over 72 hours. And, uh, you know, that's a convenient and acceptable dose form for treating acute patients who are admitted through emergency departments with these with these conditions diseases. So have you been monitoring? I'm sure you have what other people in this space are doing? And to my earlier point about some of the positive side effects that you're seeing from drugs that are meant to do something else. When you look at the GLP ones that seem to have these other positive benefits. So the GLP one drugs are

4:31

probably more related to cardiovascular disease, more so than neuro protection. Um, the, um, the. Yeah, sorry, what was the question again? The I'm just seeing what you're how you're keeping up with the overall mood from your peers in this space and the encouraging things that you're seeing. So with traumatic brain injury, uh, I guess the exciting thing about that, um, and not so good for patients is that it represents unmet clinical need. Uh, so there are no FDA approved drugs for traumatic brain injury in stroke. the the options are fairly limited as well. Uh, there are the clot busting drugs. Uh, they're only given to about 5 to 10% of patients, unfortunately. So that again represents significant unmet clinical need. And in terms of cardio protection, uh, following myocardial infarction, uh, as far as we understand, there are no drugs, uh, that, that, uh, are either approved or in development for, uh,

5:30

for preventing the sort of injury using the mode of action that, that our drug, uh, has. So narrator's share price has done incredibly well. I know you're a small company, but you're obviously going to do well on the back of these positive studies as well. I know you can't control the market, but just in terms of what you're seeing and I guess more broadly as well, would you be open to a merger and acquisition or tying up with others in the space?

5:58

Well, you know, we're focused at the moment on, uh, you know, getting the drug through, uh, preclinical safety testing and then into phase one. We're open minded about opportunities beyond that. We think with the brain injury drug, given the interest from the military, there's the potential for attracting non dilutive funding. So there's definitely an opportunity to take the drug further through uh clinical development. Um, in that in that space. So yeah we're opportunistic and open to uh, licensing out of the appropriate time when it makes the best sense for our shareholders. And with that in mind, how are you hoping to fund these further studies?

6:37

So, uh, we we are looking to fund it through, um, you know, raising money in the market here in Australia. Um, the, the latest stage development for this drug will will include studies in the US because that's where the larger patient populations are. Um, but I think, you know, given the attractiveness of, of, of the drug and, uh, the nature of these indications, I think there's, you know, there's a good chance of, of attracting non dilutive funding at various points to continue development.