15 May 2019 - - US-based biopharmaceutical company Noveome Biotherapeutics, Inc has published preclinical results for ST266, its proprietary, cell-free platform biologic, published in the Journal of Neuro-Ophthalmology, the company said.

These new results further support the neuroprotective properties of intranasally delivered ST266 in mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis -induced experimental optic neuritis.

The publication entitled, "Effects of Varying Intranasal Treatment Regimens in ST266-Mediated Retinal Ganglion Cell Neuroprotection," details the preclinical study exploring the neuroprotective effects of daily and twice daily intranasally delivered ST266 to evaluate different treatment regimens an EAE-induced experimental ON mouse model.

Kenneth S. Shindler, M.D., Ph.D., an associate professor of Ophthalmology in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and Penn's Scheie Eye Institute, and senior author on the paper continued, "In this study we demonstrated the ability of ST266 to confer longer-term neuroprotective effects, by showing that EAE mice that received either once or twice daily intranasal drops of ST266 starting from day 15 and repeated through day 56 showed significant preservation of vision, significant preservation of retinal ganglion cells, and significant reduction in optic nerve inflammation."

Noveome Biotherapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing next-generation biologics for the promotion and restoration of cellular integrity of inflamed or damaged tissues.

Noveome's multi-target platform biologic and lead product, ST266, is a complex, non-cellular product containing hundreds of biologically active proteins and other biologic factors.

ST266 is currently being evaluated in multiple indications across CNS, ophthalmic, pulmonary and gastrointestinal therapeutic areas.

Topline data from an ongoing Phase 1 trial using a novel intranasal delivery method to deliver ST266 to the optic nerve and brain and an ongoing Phase 2 trial in corneal defects are expected later in 2019.

In addition, preclinical results testing ST266 in chronic traumatic encephalopathy, emphysema and necrotizing enterocolitis are also expected later in 2019.

The company received seed funding from Lancet Capital, a venture capital consortium of leading Pittsburgh healthcare institutions including UPMC Enterprises, Highmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield, University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University.

To date, Noveome has received over USD 120m in research and infrastructure funding from the US Department of Defense, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Allegheny County. Noveome is based in Pittsburgh, PA.