A potential brain-protecting drug for people with brain injury after cardiac arrest
Official title: IND-enabling studies for a potent and efficient neuroprotective drug
Funded at Neurexis Therapeutics, INC. · NIH-11190794 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new drug is being developed to protect the brain in people who suffer severe lack of oxygen to the brain after cardiac arrest.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Neurexis Therapeutics, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, United States) |
| Project start | September 24, 2021 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,833,347 |
| NIH project number | 5R44NS120427-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11190794 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be people who have experienced global cerebral ischemia after cardiac arrest and have been resuscitated and are receiving emergency hospital care.
✕Less likely to help
People with unrelated types of brain injury, very delayed resuscitation beyond the treatment window, or contraindications to the drug may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project is preparing a peptide drug called tatCN19o that blocks an enzyme (CaMKII) which drives brain cell damage after global cerebral ischemia. Researchers have given the drug intravenously in mice and pig models that mimic human cardiac arrest and CPR, often together with therapeutic cooling, and measured anatomical, synaptic, and behavioral outcomes. The team is completing safety, dosing, and manufacturing studies needed to file for FDA permission to begin human trials. If approved, the next steps would be clinical testing in patients who have been resuscitated after cardiac arrest.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the drug could markedly reduce brain cell death and long-term cognitive disability after cardiac arrest.
How similar studies have gone: Strong neuroprotection was seen in animal studies, especially when combined with therapeutic hypothermia, but human safety and effectiveness have not yet been demonstrated.
Where this research is happening
-
Neurexis Therapeutics, INC.
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Goforth, Robyn L — Neurexis Therapeutics, INC.
- Study coordinator: Goforth, Robyn L
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.