Our Mechanism
AXER-204 Blocks Axonal Growth Inhibitors in the Central Nervous System to Promote Neural Repair
Under normal conditions, proteins present on oligodendrocytes and myelin interact with receptors present on neurons and their axonal projections to block axonal growth. Three key myelin-associated inhibitors known as Nogo-A, MAG, and OMgp individually bind to Nogo Receptor-1 (NgR1) which signals inside neurons, via co-receptors, to arrest axonal growth.
This inhibitor system has the unfortunate consequence of severely limiting regrowth with central nervous system (CNS) disease or injury. Damage to axons in the CNS is permanent. However, damaged and remaining undamaged axons provide an opportunity for restoration of function if new connections can be grown.
This inhibitor system has the unfortunate consequence of severely limiting regrowth with central nervous system (CNS) disease or injury. Damage to axons in the CNS is permanent. However, damaged and remaining undamaged axons provide an opportunity for restoration of function if new connections can be grown.
AXER-204 is a soluble human protein engineered by fusing the region of NgR1 responsible for binding Nogo-A, MAG, and OMgp to the Fc domain of human immunoglobulin in a dimeric structure roughly the size of an antibody.
In preclinical studies, AXER-204 has been shown to promote axonal growth and recovery of neurologic function in the central nervous system by acting as a decoy and binding the 3 key inhibitors Nogo-A, MAG, and OMgp. This interrupts their activation of NgR1 thereby promoting axonal growth.
In preclinical studies, AXER-204 has been shown to promote axonal growth and recovery of neurologic function in the central nervous system by acting as a decoy and binding the 3 key inhibitors Nogo-A, MAG, and OMgp. This interrupts their activation of NgR1 thereby promoting axonal growth.
AXER-204 is currently being evaluated in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial for chronic spinal cord injury and has Fast Track designation from FDA.