Aptinyx to Present Preclinical Data on Novel NMDA Receptor Modulators for Pain and Cognition at the 48th Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience


EVANSTON, Ill., Oct. 29, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aptinyx Inc. (NASDAQ:APTX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing transformative therapies for the treatment of brain and nervous system disorders, today announced four upcoming poster presentations highlighting preclinical data on two N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor modulators, NYX-2925 and NYX-458, at the 48th Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, November 3-7, 2018 in San Diego, CA.

Two poster presentations will exhibit preclinical data on NYX-2925, demonstrating enhanced synaptic plasticity in rats and dendritic spine-autonomous structural and functional plasticity in vitro, that support its ongoing clinical development for the treatment of chronic pain conditions. Additionally, two poster presentations will highlight data demonstrating long-lasting pro-cognitive effects of NYX-458 in various preclinical models, supporting its ongoing clinical development for the treatment of cognitive impairment.

“We are very encouraged by these preclinical observations, which further elucidate our drug candidates’ mechanisms of action and underscore their potential broad applicability in treating CNS disorders,” said Joseph Moskal, Ph.D., chief scientific officer at Aptinyx. “The continued understanding of the role of NMDA receptor modulation in synaptic plasticity has been integral to the design of our clinical programs. Pro-cognitive effects such as improved recognition memory, and enhanced long-term potentiation, demonstrated through our robust preclinical work, further indicate the therapeutic potential of NYX-2925 and NYX-458.”

Presentation Details:

Presentation Title: The novel NMDA receptor modulator NYX-2925 enhances dendritic spine-autonomous structural and functional plasticity in vitro (Poster Number: 201.18)
Presenter: M. Scott Bowers, Ph.D., Aptinyx
Poster Presentation: Sunday, November 4 at 1:00 p.m. PT

Presentation Title: NYX-2925 facilitates auditory-evoked long-term potentiation in rats: a translational approach for measuring NMDA receptor-dependent synaptic plasticity (Poster Number: 285.19)
Presenter: Jeffrey Burgdorf, Ph.D., Aptinyx
Poster Presentation: Monday, November 5 at 8:00 a.m. PT

Presentation Title: NYX-458, a novel small molecule NMDA receptor modulator, enhances novel object recognition in rats (Poster Number: 692.02)
Presenter: Elizabeth Colechio, Ph.D., Aptinyx
Poster Presentation: Wednesday, November 7 at 8:00 a.m. PT

Presentation Title:
NYX-458, a NMDA receptor modulator, when tested in aged F344 rats, facilitates LTP and reverses age-related cognitive deficits as measured by the Morris water maze (Poster Number: 692.03)
Presenter: Amanda Barth, Ph.D., Aptinyx
Poster Presentation: Wednesday, November 7 at 8:00 a.m. PT

About NYX-2925
NYX-2925 is a novel NMDA receptor modulator currently in Phase 2 clinical development for the treatment of painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) and also under evaluation in an exploratory Phase 2 study in fibromyalgia. NYX-2925 has demonstrated robust activity in preclinical models of numerous neuropathic pain conditions with a favorable tolerability profile. In a Phase 1 clinical study in healthy human subjects, NYX-2925 was well tolerated across a wide dose range, including dose levels well in excess of the expected therapeutic levels. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted Fast Track designation to Aptinyx’s development of NYX-2925 for the treatment of neuropathic pain associated with DPN. 

About NYX-458
NYX-458 is an NMDA receptor modulating small molecule in development for the treatment of cognitive impairment associated with Parkinson’s disease. NYX-458 has demonstrated robust, rapid, and sustained effects on cognitive deficits in studies across a number of assessments in a non-human primate model of Parkinson’s disease cognitive impairment that is highly translatable to human studies. Administration of NYX-458 resulted in a reversal of cognitive impairment and, on some measures, restored performance back to baseline levels. NYX-458 is currently in a Phase 1 clinical study to evaluate its safety and tolerability in healthy volunteers.

About Aptinyx
Aptinyx Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of proprietary synthetic small molecules for the treatment of brain and nervous system disorders. Aptinyx has a platform for discovery of novel compounds that work through a unique mechanism to modulate – rather than block or over-activate – NMDA receptors and enhance synaptic plasticity, the foundation of neural cell communication. The company has three product candidates in clinical development in central nervous system indications, including chronic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder, and cognitive impairment associated with Parkinson’s disease. Aptinyx is also advancing additional compounds from its proprietary discovery platform, which continues to generate a rich and diverse pipeline of small-molecule NMDA receptor modulators with the potential to treat an array of neurologic disorders. For more information, visit www.aptinyx.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the company’s business plans and objectives, expectations regarding the design, implementation, enrollment, timing and success of its current and planned clinical trials, expectations regarding its preclinical development activities, and expectations regarding its uses of capital, expenses. Risks that contribute to the uncertain nature of the forward-looking statements include: the success, cost and timing of the company’s product candidate development activities and planned clinical trials; the company’s ability to execute on its strategy; regulatory developments in the United States and foreign countries; it’s the company’s estimates regarding expenses, future revenue, and capital requirements; as well as those risks and uncertainties set forth in the company’s most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q and in its other filings and reports with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. Aptinyx undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.

Investor Contacts:
Nick Smith
Aptinyx Inc.
ir@aptinyx.com
847-871-0377

Rachel Frank
Stern Investor Relations
rachelf@sternir.com
212-362-1200

Media Contact:
Jordann Phillips
Canale Communications
jordann@canalecomm.com
619-849-6009

Source: Aptinyx Inc.