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MIRA Pharmaceuticals Announces Ketamir-2 Shows Promising Safety Profile in Comparison to Traditional Ketamine In Preclinical Testing
New preclinical studies suggest that, unlike traditional ketamine, MIRA's oral ketamine analog Ketamir-2 does not induce hyper-locomotor activity, indicative
About this update from Mira Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"New preclinical studies suggest that, unlike traditional ketamine, MIRA's oral ketamine analog Ketamir-2 does not induce hyper-locomotor activity, indicative of psychotic symptoms, offering the potential for safer mental health treatments\nMIAMI, June 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- MIRA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: MIRA) (\"MIRA\" or the \"Company\"), a leading pre-clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on the treatment of neurologic and neuropsychiatric disorders, today announced new compelling preclinical results for its investigational compound, Ketamir-2, a novel oral ketamine analog. The new data highlights Ketamir's potential to provide therapeutic benefits without inducing schizophrenia-like behavior or hyper-locomotor activity. \n\nThese results follow the release of positive preclinical efficacy data for Ketamir-2 earlier in June, which collectively are forming the basis of an Investigational New Drug Application (IND) that MIRA plans to submit to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Ketamir-2 by the end of this year.\nBackground on the Current Preclinical Study\nMIRA conducted the latest rigorous preclinical studies in collaboration with Biotrial to evaluate the effects of Ketamir-2 on spontaneous locomotor activity in mice. The studies are particularly significant for the treatment of mental health disorders and pain management, presenting a major advancement in the development of safer and more effective therapeutic options.\nKetamine-induced hyperlocomotion is considered a schizophrenia-like effect because it models the hyperactive and psychotic symptoms observed in schizophrenia patients. The hyperlocomotion induced by traditional ketamine is mediated by increased dopamine release and turnover in the nucleus accumbens, a brain region implicated in the positive symptoms of schizophrenia, such as psychosis. Antipsychotic drugs like haloperidol, which block dopamine receptors, can reduce the effect of ketamine-induced hyperlocomotion, further linking this behavior to the dopaminergic dysregulation hypothesized in schizophrenia.\nKey Findings from the Study:\nReduced Psychotic-like Symptoms: Unlike traditional ketamine, which resulted in marked and significant hyperlocomotion, Ketamir-2 did not produce incidences of inducing hyperlocomotion, schizophrenia-like behaviors in animal models, indicating a pote...