Newron's evenamide positive in schizophrenia trial

Italian CNS-focused drug developer Newron Pharmaceuticals’ (SIX: NWRN) has released positive detailed results of a Phase IIa study with its unique sodium channel blocker, evenamide (NW-3509), in patients with schizophrenia.

The new chemical entity is orally available and specifically targets voltage-gated sodium channels by a unique mechanism of action. The results were presented at the 16th International Congress on Schizophrenia Research, 24-28 March 2017, in San Diego. Despite the encouraging results, Newron’s shares fell 4.8% to 22.90 Swiss francs in morning trading today.

Ravi Anand, Newron’s chief medical officer, stated: “Evenamide uniquely combines voltage-gated sodium channel blockade with attenuation of glutamate release. The results of this first study in patients with schizophrenia confirm preclinical data, which indicated that evenamide might provide significant evidence of efficacy as an add-on to the most commonly prescribed atypical antipsychotics in patients with chronic schizophrenia, without effect on any of the over 130 neurotransmitters, enzymes, or transporters targeted by most antipsychotics.”