ZyVersa’s Alzheimer’s treatment shows promise in studies

WESTON, Fla. - ZyVersa Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:ZVSA), a micro-cap biopharmaceutical company with a market capitalization of $2.23 million, has announced new data supporting the potential of its Inflammasome ASC Inhibitor IC 100 as a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). According to InvestingPro data, despite the stock trading at $0.95, analysts maintain a $20 price target, suggesting significant potential upside if development efforts succeed. Published in the peer-reviewed journal Immunity, the study indicates that NLRP3 Inflammasome inhibition can attenuate AD pathology and neuroinflammation.

The research involved a mouse model of AD, where initial deposition of amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques triggered NLRP3 inflammasome activation. The inhibition of NLRP3 not only reduced inflammation but also enhanced the degradation and elimination of Aβ by microglia through increased metabolic activity, which could slow the progression of the disease.

Stephen C. Glover, Co-founder, Chairman, CEO, and President of ZyVersa, stated that the preclinical program data showed a decrease in inflammasome activation and ASC speck formation in the cortex of aging mice. Additionally, a second study in postmortem human brains confirmed the correlation between ASC expression and Aβ and pTau in neurons. Glover also mentioned that labeled IC 100 associated with ASC in neurons, offering potential as both an imaging biomarker and a therapeutic option.

The company is also assessing IC 100’s ability to block neuroinflammation that induces neural degeneration in Parkinson’s disease, with findings submitted to a peer-reviewed journal and currently under review.

IC 100 is a humanized IgG4 monoclonal antibody designed to inhibit the inflammasome adaptor protein ASC, which plays a role in initiating and perpetuating inflammatory responses. By targeting ASC, IC 100 can inhibit multiple inflammasome pathways, potentially providing a treatment option for neurodegenerative diseases.

ZyVersa, which focuses on developing drugs for inflammatory and renal diseases, is well-positioned in the inflammasome space with IC 100 and in kidney disease with its phase 2 Cholesterol Efflux Mediator VAR 200. While the company’s lead indication for IC 100 is obesity with certain metabolic complications, InvestingPro analysis indicates financial challenges ahead, with a weak financial health score and current ratio of 0.03. For deeper insights into ZyVersa’s financial metrics and growth potential, including 8 additional ProTips, subscribers can access the full analysis on InvestingPro.

The information in this article is based on a press release statement from ZyVersa Therapeutics, Inc.

In other recent news, ZyVersa Therapeutics has secured $2 million in funding through a financing agreement with a U.S. institutional investor. This deal involves the sale of over 2 million shares and warrants, priced at $0.95 each, with the funds aimed at supporting the company’s general working capital needs. The warrants will be exercisable at $1.00 per share after shareholder approval and will expire in five years. Additionally, ZyVersa has agreed to amend existing warrants, reducing their exercise price to $1.00 per share, contingent on stockholder approval. In a separate development, ZyVersa reported promising results from a study on its Inflammasome ASC Inhibitor IC 100, showing potential benefits for heart failure treatment. The study demonstrated cardioprotective effects and metabolic improvements in an obese animal model, highlighting a reduction in inflammation and cardiac hypertrophy. The company plans to initiate further preclinical studies to explore IC 100’s effects compared to semaglutide. ZyVersa’s CEO expressed optimism about the findings, supporting the focus on obesity-related metabolic complications as a lead indication for IC 100.

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