NeuroRx receives patent allowance for bipolar depression, suicide treatment

NeuroRx recently announced it received a notice of allowance from the U.S. Patent Office for its filing for the “Composition and Method for Treatment of Depression in Psychosis in Humans” regarding Cyclurad, an investigational treatment regimen for acute suicidal crisis associated with bipolar depression.

“The patent supports the intended clinical use and commercial positioning of Cyclurad. This first allowance also speaks to the innovative science behind our company, and we look forward to further advancing our intellectual property position around the world with our other filings,” Jonathan Javitt, MD, MPH, CEO of NeuroRx, said in a press release.

Cyclurad, also referred to as NRX-101, is a potential rapid-onset and sustained treatment regimen comprised of a proprietary, oral, fixed-dose combination of D-cycloserine, an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor modulator, and lurasidone, a 5-HT2a receptor antagonist.

Treatment begins with a single dose of ketamine followed by 6 weeks of daily oral Cyclurad.

“More than 100 Americans lose their lives to suicide every day, and no approved drug has been shown to decrease suicidal ideation among people with bipolar disorder. In fact, currently marketed antidepressants carry FDA warning labels indicating the potential for increased risk of suicide,” Sherry Glied, PhD, director of NeuroRx, said in the release. “If NRX-101 proves itself to decrease suicidal ideation while also treating depression, it has the potential to be a first-in-class life-saving drug.”