About NervGen

NervGen (TSX-V: NGEN, OTCQX: NGENF) is a clinical stage biotech company dedicated to developing innovative treatments that enable the nervous system to repair itself following damage, whether due to injury or disease. NervGen’s lead drug candidate, NVG-291, is being evaluated in a Phase 1b/2a clinical trial. The company’s lead target indication is spinal cord injury.

Our History

Dr. Harold Punnett is one of the founders of NervGen Pharma. In 2016, Dr. Punnett’s daughter-in-law, Codi Darnell, fell and became a complete T-11 paraplegic. Following Codi’s accident, Dr. Punnett set out on a mission to find a cure for Codi, and others like her. In his quest, Dr. Punnett discovered Dr. Jerry Silver and his research at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU). Since the late ’80s, Dr. Silver’s research has been focused on the ability of the nervous system to repair itself after injury. NervGen was founded in 2018, following many conversations and discussions between Dr. Punnett and Dr. Silver. NervGen has exclusive rights to the intellectual property from CWRU.

Key Facts about Nervous System Damage and NVG-291

  • A scar forms when there is damage to the nervous system. Scar formation can be in response to acute damage, such as spinal cord injury (SCI), or in chronic diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and multiple sclerosis (MS).
  • Scars contain molecules called chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs). CSPGs bind to a cellular receptor called protein tyrosine phosphatase sigma (PTPσ).
  • CSPGs initially help to contain damage, but the interaction of CSPGs and PTPσ in the long term interferes with repair of the nervous system.
  • NVG-291 is a first-in-class experimental drug administered by injection under the skin.
  • In animal studies, NVG-291-R promoted nervous system repair and enhanced recovery of functions such as walking, bladder control, vision, and memory.
  • NVG-291 has completed a Phase 1 clinical trial in healthy volunteers evaluating safety, tolerability, and metabolism.
  • We have initiated a Phase 1a/2b clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of NVG-291 in individuals with either chronic (1-10 years post-injury) or subacute (10-49 days post-injury) spinal cord injury.