Tucson, AZ, USA, October 31, 2023 - NuvOx Pharma (NuvOx), a clinical stage biotechnology company developing a first-in-class therapeutic to treat life-threatening diseases where hypoxia plays a role, announced that its collaborator in United Kingdom has signed a contract with the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR), to support an up to 150 patient stroke trial: NanO2 in Large VessEL Occlusion Stroke (NOVEL): a multi-centre single-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled blinded end-point clinical trial evaluating the safety, tolerability and preliminary efficacy of perfluorocarbon in acute ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion. Dr. Evan Unger, CEO and co-founder of NuvOx said, “We have been working with NIHR and our investigator for this trial for a couple of years. It is impactful as long-term stroke disability is one of the most costly healthcare burdens worldwide. We received the recommendation for funding late 2022, and are very pleased that such contract is finally signed off. We are extremely grateful that NIHR support and are excited to start the trial.” Professor Keith Muir, SINAPSE Professor of Clinical Imaging & Consultant Neurologist, University of Glasgow and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, said, “We are thrilled to receive this contract – representing UK government’s recognition of vast impact of stroke disability cost and its cultivation of innovative ways of resolving the unmet medical needs. We are excited about NuvOx’s product – NanO2, and look forward to collaborating with NuvOx for conducting this trial.” Professor Philip Bath, Director of the Stroke Trials Unit at the University of Nottingham, said “Stroke is a common cause of disability and key concern for patients, carers and society. This investigator-led trial will test a novel agent for treating stroke patients and I am delighted to be helping deliver this study and working with the University of Glasgow and NuvOx.” About NuvOx NuvOx is a privately held, clinical Phase IIb stage company, developing a novel oxygen therapeutic where hypoxia plays a role. Hypoxia, or low oxygen, is responsible for resistance to cancer treatment, brain damage in stroke, and the death of COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The Company’s lead drug - NanO2 TM represents a disruptive platform technology addressing multiple highly unmet needs, with positive clinical efficacy demonstrated in two completed Phase Ib/IIa studies: glioblastoma multiforme as a radiosensitizer and stroke as a neuroprotectant. It was shown to be the most effective oxygen therapeutic from the literature survey from 74 clinical-stage compounds. It has safety and efficacy data in 7+ indications in various clinical stages, including Orphan Drug Designation for both glioblastoma and sickle cell. The product was derived from Dr. Evan Unger’s pioneering work in microbubbles, which was commercialized as the #1 selling contrast agent. As such, it has safety data in 2,000+ subjects. The product is designed to be synergistic, rather than competitive with standard of care.
Company Contact:
NuvOx Pharma
Dr. Evan Unger, CEO
Rong Wang, COO/CFO
Investor Contact:
Rong Wang T: 520.624.6688 E: rwang@nuvoxpharma.com
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Notes to Editors The mission of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research. We do this by:
• Funding high quality, timely research that benefits the NHS, public health and social care;
• Investing in world-class expertise, facilities and a skilled delivery workforce to translate discoveries into improved treatments and services;
• Partnering with patients, service users, carers and communities, improving the relevance, quality and impact of our research;
• Attracting, training and supporting the best researchers to tackle complex health and social care challenges;
• Collaborating with other public funders, charities and industry to help shape a cohesive and globally competitive research system;
• Funding applied global health research and training to meet the needs of the poorest people in low and middle income countries. NIHR is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care. Its work in low and middle income countries is principally funded through UK Aid from the UK government. This project (NIHR151755) is funded by the Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation (EME) Programme, an MRC and NIHR partnership. The views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the MRC, NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.