NuNerve is at the forefront of scientific discovery, harnessing its deep understanding of the mechanisms controlling neuronal connectivity and survival to pioneer innovative therapies for neurological disorders. NuNerve’s lead clinical candidate, NUN-004, has shown significant promise as a treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as motor neuron disease (MND) or Lou Gehrig’s disease. Other potential indications include Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, spinal cord injury and multiple sclerosis.
The research
EphA4 - the key molecule
Our research shows that EphA4 is the key molecule involved in promoting motor neurone connections in the CNS and regulating the recovery of motor neurons following injury and disease. The finding is the foundation for EphA4 being a highly promising therapeutic target for MND, spinal cord injury, as well as other neurological diseases.
NuNerve’s patented lead candidate NUN-004, is a novel modified form of EphA4-Fc, engineered for improved stability and an extended serum half-life, which overcomes the limitations of wild-type EphA4-Fc for significantly greater therapeutic efficacy.
NuNerve Clinical Milestone
NuNerve has successfully completed a Phase 1a/b first-in-human clinical trial of NUN-004 in healthy individuals and MND patients demonstrating that NUN-004:
- was well-tolerated with no significant safety concerns; and,
- importantly, NUN-004 showed promising therapeutic effect that compared favourably with other MND therapies.
Our history
NuNerve was seeded by a bequest from Peter Goodenough, a determined entrepreneur who passed away in 2004 at the age of 68 after a three-year battle with MND.
A bequest from Mr Goodenough’s estate helped to establish and staff a MND laboratory at The University of Queensland’s Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) in 2007.
UQ’s commercialisation company UniQuest established NuNerve Pty Ltd in 2009, at the request of Mr Goodenough’s Trust and QBI’s Director, Professor Perry Bartlett. The company has been supported by FightMND, government grants and the R&D tax rebate.
Our mission
“Our mission is to utilize our pioneering research into how neuronal survival and connectivity is regulated in the CNS to develop new treatments for neurological disorders and enhance the quality of life for patients and their families worldwide.”
⸺ Emeritus Professor Perry Bartlett AO FAA, Chair of NuNerve Pty Ltd