OptiNose has been selected by the Research Council of Norway for a grant of up to NOK 15.9 million ($1.8 million) to study intranasal delivery of Orexin-A for the treatment of narcolepsy. The grant is contingent on reaching a contract agreement between the Research Council, OptiNose, and its partners, which include Oslo University Hospital, Smerud Medical Research, and Hovione.
OptiNose Chief Scientific Officer Per G. Djupesland said, “The opportunity to further investigate nose-to-brain drug transport in an effort to develop a new and much needed treatment for narcolepsy is very exciting. Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological disorder caused by destruction of neurons in the brain that produce Orexin-A, a neuropeptide regulating sleep and wakefulness. Currently available drugs primarily target the symptoms of narcolepsy and have many side effects. Patients suffering from narcolepsy experience excessive daytime sleepiness, disturbed nocturnal sleep and episodes of sudden muscle paralysis triggered by emotions. We hope to advance the science and generate positive outcomes by directing treatment closer to the root of the problem by using Orexin-A powder delivered with our innovative exhaler device.”
CEO Peter Miller added, “2016 is off to an exciting start. We continue to advance both our near-term assets and our early-phase projects for conditions where there is real need for improved treatments. We have invested in research and development of novel therapies with significant differentiation, and we are pleased the Research Council of Norway believes it could be valuable to support this new project.”
Read the OptiNose press release.
