SPECIFICITY MATTERS
Within the human body, billions of neurons play a vital role in processing and transmitting electrical signals, enabling the proper functioning of neuronal networks both in the brain and peripheral nervous system. At the early stages of neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders, neurons experience a hyperexcitable state that drives the disease further. Hyperexcitability is due to the malfunctioning of ion channels, which are crucial proteins involved in regulating neuronal firing. At IonTX Inc., we take a targeted approach to address neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders by specifically modulating ion channels using science that has been created with the objective to fine-tune neuronal firing to normalized levels.
When it comes to neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders, specificity matters.
PROBLEM IONTX IS SOLVING
Our focus lies in modulating ion channels, the root cause of neuronal hyperexcitability, aiming for interventions that go beyond symptomatic relief and strive for disease modification. By precisely targeting and modulating these ion channels, we aim to develop therapies that can have a lasting impact on the underlying mechanisms of these disorders.
Nav channels, or voltage-gated Na+ channels, are the key determinants in regulating neuronal excitability and synaptic transmission. They facilitate the influx of sodium ions in neurons, initiating action potentials necessary for electrical signal propagation.
Our solution at IonTx Inc. is to develop therapeutic approaches targeting channel-associated proteins (ChAPs) that are able to fine-tune Nav channels and hyperexcitability in neurons in early-phase disease states. IonTx's platform targets clinically relevant ChAPs, allowing to restore hyperexcitability to a rested state as disease-modifying therapies for neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. These medications offer the potential for localized effects, enabling targeted treatment and laying the foundation for precision medicine and personalized approaches in disorders that primarily affect neurons.
DISCOVERY
IonTX addresses the need for non-opioid treatments in chronic peripheral pain by developing a novel compound based on ChAPs modulation. The compound that IonTX has created demonstrates preclinical efficacy in peripheral pain models without cardiac toxicity, neurological side effects, or abuse potential. Our first-in-class lead compound holds a competitive advantage over current anti-pain medications, offering targeted modulation of excessive firing in peripheral sensory neurons to block pain sensation at an early stage without side effects. Rapidly acting anti-depressants and medications for substance use disorders based on ChAPs are also in development at IonTX.
