Neuren/US Army expand brain drug deal

New Zealand's Neuren Pharmaceuticals says it has expanded its agreement with the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, the leading medical research arm of the US Army, for the brain trauma drug NNZ-2566.

According to the company, the latest preclinical studies have demonstrated that the benefit of administering the agent following injury has increased from the already impressive 50% reduction in neurological deficit to a 70% cut with longer exposure to the drug. Consequently, Neuren says it is in discussions with Walter Reed with regard to moving the product into clinical trials.