U44NS129628

Preclinical and early clinical development of a novel drug for on-demand voiding - Abstract

Spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, spina bifida, and stroke, as well as complications due to aging and diabetes, can produce a loss of voluntary control over bowel and bladder function resulting in both fecal and urinary incontinence as well as retention in the same patient.

The activities proposed in this application will enable Dignify Therapeutics to complete preclinical development of an on-demand, rapid-onset (< 5 min), short-duration (< 10 min), drug-induced, voiding therapy to restore voluntary control of bowel and bladder function for the patient populations listed above. This project will culminate in the filing of an Investigational New Drug Application (IND) for DTI-117 and completion of a Phase I clinical study.

Neurokinin 2 receptors (NK2Rs) are located at several sites in the defecation and micturition pathways, particularly the colorectal and urinary bladder smooth muscles. Preclinical in vitro and in vivo studies in several species, including human tissue, have shown that activation of NK2Rs produces forceful colonic and bladder contractions.

Our previous preclinical studies showed that when administered via intramuscular, intravenous, subcutaneous, intranasal, or sublingual routes, NK2R agonists, including DTI-117, rapidly induced transient increases in colorectal and bladder pressures that produced urination and defecation. DTI-117 is currently in preclinical development by Dignify Therapeutics.

Under NINDS CREATE Bio Optimization Track Award U44NS106685, efficacy, selectivity, and preliminary safety of DTI-117 has been established. A GMP-compliant synthetic route, physicochemical characterization, analytical methods, bioanalytical assays, in vitro characterization, and target selectivity for NK2Rs versus multiple common drug targets have all been established. Preclinical efficacy, measured as rapid-onset defecation and urination, has been demonstrated, and in vivo pharmacokinetic profiles mimic in vivo pharmacodynamic profiles. General toxicity studies completed to-date indicate that DTI-117 is both safe and effective.

The final step for preclinical development of DTI-117 is to file an Investigational New Drug Application (IND) prior to initiation of clinical studies. FDA guidelines require that acceptable toxicological and safety profiles are demonstrated in preclinical studies conducted under Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) conditions for inclusion in the IND. In parallel, drug substance and drug product must be manufactured according to strict FDA regulations. Completion of these activities as described in this application will enable an IND filing for DTI-117.

Dignify Therapeutics

(1) TO SUPPORT EXTRAMURAL RESEARCH FUNDED BY THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND STROKE (NINDS) INCLUDING: BASIC RESEARCH THAT EXPLORES THE FUNDAMENTAL STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF THE BRAIN AND THE NERVOUS SYSTEM, RESEARCH TO UNDERSTAND THE CAUSES AND ORIGINS OF PATHOLOGICAL CONDITIONS OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM WITH THE GOAL OF PREVENTING THESE DISORDERS, RESEARCH ON THE NATURAL COURSE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS, IMPROVED METHODS OF DISEASE PREVENTION, NEW METHODS OF DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT, DRUG DEVELOPMENT, DEVELOPMENT OF NEURAL DEVICES, CLINICAL TRIALS, AND RESEARCH TRAINING IN BASIC, TRANSLATIONAL AND CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCE. THE INSTITUTE IS THE LARGEST FUNDER OF BASIC NEUROSCIENCE IN THE US AND SUPPORTS RESEARCH ON TOPICS INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO: DEVELOPMENT OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM, INCLUDING NEUROGENESIS AND PROGENITOR CELL BIOLOGY, SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION IN DEVELOPMENT AND PLASTICITY, AND PROGRAMMED CELL DEATH, SYNAPSE FORMATION, FUNCTION, AND PLASTICITY, LEARNING AND MEMORY, CHANNELS, TRANSPORTERS, AND PUMPS, CIRCUIT FORMATION AND MODULATION, BEHAVIORAL AND COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE, SENSORIMOTOR LEARNING, INTEGRATION AND EXECUTIVE FUNCTION, NEUROENDOCRINE SYSTEMS, SLEEP AND CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS, AND SENSORY AND MOTOR SYSTEMS. IN ADDITION, THE INSTITUTE SUPPORTS BASIC, TRANSLATIONAL AND CLINICAL STUDIES ON A NUMBER OF DISORDERS OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM INCLUDING (BUT NOT LIMITED TO): STROKE, TRAUMATIC INJURY TO THE BRAIN, SPINAL CORD AND PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM, NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS, MOVEMENT DISORDERS, BRAIN TUMORS, CONVULSIVE DISORDERS, INFECTIOUS DISORDERS OF THE BRAIN AND NERVOUS SYSTEM, IMMUNE DISORDERS OF THE BRAIN AND NERVOUS SYSTEM, INCLUDING MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, DISORDERS RELATED TO SLEEP, AND PAIN. PROGRAMMATIC AREAS, WHICH ARE PRIMARILY SUPPORTED BY THE DIVISION OF NEUROSCIENCE, ARE ALSO SUPPORTED BY THE DIVISION OF EXTRAMURAL ACTIVITIES, THE DIVISION OF TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH, THE DIVISION OF CLINICAL RESEARCH, THE OFFICE OF TRAINING AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, THE OFFICE OF PROGRAMS TO ENHANCE NEUROSCIENCE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, AND THE OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES. (2) TO EXPAND AND IMPROVE THE SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR) PROGRAM, TO INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, TO INCREASE SMALL BUSINESS PARTICIPATION IN FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND TO FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION. TO UTILIZE THE SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (STTR) PROGRAM, TO STIMULATE AND FOSTER SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION THROUGH COOPERATIVE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CARRIED OUT BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, TO FOSTER TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, TO INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND TO FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION.

93.853 - Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NNDS) [HHS - NIH]

Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 277090003 United States

Single Zip Code

Blueprint Neurotherapeutics Network (BPN): Biologic-based Drug Discovery and Development for Disorders of the Nervous System (U44 Clinical Trial Optional) (PAR-21-233)

Amendment Since initial award the End Date has been extended from 02/29/24 to 02/28/27 and the total obligations have increased 499% from $499,393 to $2,992,699.