#France #Lyon #Neurology #Lys Therapeutics #LYS241

Lys Therapeutics Raises Over €25 Million for Neurology Development

Lys Therapeutics, a France-based biotechnology company, has made significant strides by securing over €25 million since its establishment in 2021. This funding is aimed at advancing their key therapeutic candidate, LYS241, toward clinical development. The company focuses on innovative treatments targeting the tPA-NMDAr axis, a crucial path in addressing a variety of neurodegenerative and neurovascular diseases.

LYS241 features a cutting-edge design as a fully humanized, Fc-silent IgG1 monoclonal antibody. It has been crafted to selectively inhibit the detrimental interactions between tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and NMDA receptors (NMDAr) while maintaining normal receptor functions. This unique targeting mechanism is particularly relevant in tackling issues linked to blood-brain barrier impairment, neuroinflammation, and excitotoxicity, which are pivotal in conditions such as Parkinson's disease, synucleinopathies like multiple system atrophy, and ischemic stroke.

A notable aspect of this funding round includes a generous grant exceeding $5 million from The Michael J. Fox Foundation, specifically aimed at advancing research on Parkinson's disease. In addition to this, support from Bpifrance, France 2030, and various private investors has bolstered the company's ambitions.

The capital raised will play a critical role in completing vital regulatory studies, preparing for manufacturing, and paving the way for the clinical entry of LYS241 through a rich Phase 1a/1b program. This program is designed to include cohorts of healthy volunteers as well as patient cohorts tailored to specific indications. The studies aim to evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetics, and early biological signals associated with LYS241 across various neurological conditions.

Recent preclinical results have provided encouraging insights into LYS241's potential to mitigate issues tied to blood-brain barrier dysfunction, neuroinflammation, and the progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's. The drug is being positioned as either a standalone or supplementary therapy alongside standard reperfusion methods for ischemic stroke, with the goal of improving reperfusion quality and minimizing complications like hemorrhage and inflammation.

Dr. Manuel Blanc, the CEO and co-founder of Lys Therapeutics, expressed optimism regarding the funding, stating, "Raising more than €25 million in five years reflects strong confidence in our science, our execution, and the broad therapeutic potential of LYS241. This support enables us to finalize the necessary groundwork for clinical entry and pursue our ambition of translating a differentiated understanding of neurovascular biology into a new class of disease-modifying therapies for severe neurological disorders with substantial unmet medical needs."

The efforts of Lys Therapeutics signify a promising advancement in neurology, where the need for innovative treatments remains critical. With the backing of significant financial support, the company is well-positioned to make meaningful contributions to the field of neurodegenerative disease treatment.

For additional information, please visit lys-tx.com.