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. The company’s initial focus is on spinal cord injury, Alzheimer’s  and multiple sclerosis. Our lead drug candidate, NVG-291, is currently in a Phase 1 clinical trial. Studies in patients are planned to initiate in 2023.

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.
  • NervGen’s lead drug candidate, NVG-291, relieves the inhibitory effects of CSPGs and thus enables 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 is currently in a Phase 1 clinical trial in healthy volunteers to evaluate safety, tolerability, and metabolism.
  • After completing our Phase 1 clinical trial, the company plans to study the effectiveness and safety of NVG-291 initially in people with spinal cord injury, Alzheimer’s and multiple sclerosis.