MIRA Pharmaceuticals Inc. (MIRA) is seeing its stock rise today with a trading volume significantly exceeding its average. This surge in interest comes after the company announced promising results from a preclinical study of its oral ketamine analog, Ketamir-2. The study, conducted in rats, demonstrated that Ketamir-2 effectively reversed neuropathic pain induced by nerve ligation.
The study utilized a nerve ligation model, a standard approach for mimicking human neuropathic pain. The research focused on mechanical allodynia, a condition characterized by heightened sensitivity to touch. The findings were remarkable:
* Low oral doses of Ketamir-2 led to a significant reduction in pain for extended periods following surgery, lasting up to 22 days.
* Higher doses of Ketamir-2 resulted in complete normalization of pain thresholds, indicating a full reversal of the neuropathic pain signal.
What makes Ketamir-2 particularly noteworthy is its effectiveness in comparison to traditional oral ketamine, which showed no significant pain relief in the same experimental setting. These results highlight Ketamir-2’s potential as a groundbreaking treatment for neuropathic pain, offering hope for patients with limited existing options.
MIRA Pharmaceuticals is currently pursuing further studies to assess Ketamir-2’s efficacy in treating both cancer-induced depression and neuropathic pain. The company is aiming to initiate human trials as early as 2025.
Itzchak Angel, Chief Scientific Advisor at MIRA Pharmaceuticals, expressed enthusiasm about the findings. He emphasized the significance of Ketamir-2’s oral administration without the severe psychotropic side effects commonly associated with ketamine. This makes Ketamir-2 a potentially safer and more accessible treatment option for patients.
MIRA is focused on scaling production and preparing for the next stage of clinical trials, reflecting its commitment to advancing Ketamir-2’s development. In July, the company announced additional preclinical study data, providing further insights into Ketamir-2’s mechanism of action and toxicology profile.
MIRA’s stock is currently trading up significantly in the premarket session, demonstrating investor confidence in the potential of Ketamir-2. The company’s dedication to research and development, coupled with the promising results of the recent preclinical study, positions MIRA as a player to watch in the pharmaceutical industry.