Suramin as a possible treatment for Autism, ME CFS and Long Covid

OMF report

Treating Autism and ME / CFS: Could One Drug Help Both? by Cort Johnson

https://www.omf.ngo/2017/10/19/treating-autism-and-mecfs-could-one-drug-do-both/

 

That's an interesting talk.

 

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-rel...h-autism-spectrum-disorder-asd-301224425.html

PaxMedica Announces Positive Results from Phase 2 Trial of PAX-101 (IV suramin) in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

 

Merged thread

https://www.globenewswire.com/news-...h-virtual-investor-summit-microcap-event.html

PaxMedica to Present at the Jan 26th Virtual Investor Summit Microcap Event
January 20, 2023 13:31 ET | Source: PaxMedica, Inc.

Presentation on Thursday, January 26th, 2023 at 1:30 PM EST


TARRYTOWN, NY, Jan. 20, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire -- PaxMedica, Inc. (Nasdaq: PXMD), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focusing on the development of novel anti-purinergic drug therapies (“APT”) for the treatment of disorders with intractable neurologic symptoms, today announced that it will be presenting virtually at the upcoming Virtual Investor Summit on January 26th.

Event: Q1 Investor Summit

Date: Thursday, January 26th, 2023

Presentation: January 26th at 1:30 PM ET

Location: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_LRZ8iM38TTCNpbbgvkUvCA

• The theme is 25 micro-cap companies with a catalyst and/or strong performance in the current market
• 1x1s will be available for qualified investors
• The conference is completely complimentary to qualified investors. Please register at Complimentary Investor Registration

About PaxMedica

PaxMedica is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focusing on the development of anti-purinergic drug therapies (“APT”) for the treatment of disorders with intractable neurologic symptoms, ranging from neurodevelopmental disorders, including Autism Spectrum Disorder (“ASD”), to Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (“ME/CFS”), a debilitating physical and cognitive disorder believed to be viral in origin and now with rising incidence globally due to the long term effects of SARS-CoV-2 (“COVID-19”). One of PaxMedica’s primary points of focus is the development and testing of its lead program, PAX-101, an intravenous formulation of suramin, in the treatment of ASD and the advancement of the clinical understanding of using that agent against other disorders such as ME/CFS and Long COVID-19 Syndrome, a clinical diagnosis in individuals who have been previously infected with COVID-19. For more information, please visit: www.paxmedica.com

About the Investor Summit

The Investor Summit is an exclusive, independent conference dedicated to connecting smallcap and microcap companies with qualified investors. The Q1 Investor Summit will take place virtually, featuring 30 companies and over 120 institutional, family office, and high net worth investors. Sectors Participating: Biotech, Communication Services, Consumer, Energy, Technology, Financial, Healthcare, Industrials, Materials, Real Estate. Contact: emily@investorsummitgroup.com

 

For what it is worth:
Why Is PaxMedica (PXMD) Stock Up Today?
PXMD stock traders are celebrating a multimillion-dollar capital infusion for PaxMedica

https://investorplace.com/2023/02/why-is-paxmedica-pxmd-stock-up-today/

 

Suramin was seen as a potential treatment for M.E. for some reason, wasn't it?

 

PaxMedica Releases 2022 Shareholder Letter
https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2023/02/15/2608576/0/en/PaxMedica-Releases-2022-Shareholder-Letter.html
Only mention of ME/CFS:
“I’d like to close by thanking the team and the Board of Directors for their hard work and insight in our first year as a public company. I’d also like to thank our shareholders and other stakeholders for their interest and support in the work that PaxMedica is doing to find treatments for disorders with intractable neurologic symptoms, including Autism Spectrum Disorder and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (“ME/CFS”).”

 

PaxMedica, Inc. Provides Business Update and Reports Fourth Quarter 2022 Financial Results
https://www.marketwatch.com/press-r...rth-quarter-2022-financial-results-2023-03-29

Takeaways:

• They want to get suramin approved in the US for treating African sleeping sickness by analyzing existing data, which they expect to be finished in the second half of 2023. If I understand correctly, this is a complicated maneuver to get funding. The FDA will issue them a voucher for accelerated review if it's approved. But that voucher can be used on any drug, and can be sold. Instead of using it, PaxMedica will sell their voucher to fund their business. These vouchers go for around $100 million, which would leave Pax with ample funding to research suramin as a drug for ME or autism.
• They want to apply to the FDA to study suramin in autism in 2024.

The rest of their update revolves around business matters, like funding and hiring. They're pursuing autism more than ME/CFS--not surprising, as autism has several times the prevalence (In the US, 5.4M with autism vs. 836k-2.5M with ME) and dramatically higher recognition and awareness.

 

For what it is worth:
Doesn’t mention ME/CFS except in listing what company does:

PaxMedica Announces NASDAQ Closing Bell Ringing to Celebrate Initial Public Offering and Autism Awareness Month
https://www.globenewswire.com/en/ne...blic-Offering-and-Autism-Awareness-Month.html

 

An interesting and detailed press release

https://www.bloomberg.com/press-rel...etes-hat-301-registrational-trial-for-pax-101

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8424DnJcRF4

 

You have got to be kidding me. What medical records did they keep in Malawi in 1900?

 

Ummm clearing my throat……

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/10/4/02-0626_article

Reanalyzing the 1900–1920 Sleeping Sickness Epidemic in Uganda

Abstract
Sleeping sickness has long been a major public health problem in Uganda. From 1900 to 1920, more than 250,000 people died in an epidemic that affected the southern part of the country, particularly the Busoga region. The epidemic has traditionally been ascribed to T. b. gambiense, a parasite now confined to central and western Africa. The Busoga region still reports sleeping sickness, although it is caused by Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, commonly believed to have spread to Uganda from Zambia in the 1940s. Our analysis of clinical data recorded in the early 1900s shows that the clinical course of sleeping sickness cases during the 1900–1920 epidemic in Uganda was markedly different from T.b. gambiense cases, but similar to T.b. rhodesiense. These findings suggest that T.b. rhodesiense was present in Uganda and contributed to the epidemic. The historic context is reassessed in the light of these data.

 

This is complicated.

 

Recently the BRAIN Foundation interviewed PaxMedica's CEO on Suramin's potential for autism.
Suramin for Autism: An Update for 2023 and Beyond
https://www.paxmedica.com/update/20230619

 

So it seems that the Phase II trial in South Africa did not replicate Naviaux’s original finding of 20 mg being more effective than placebo. He had 5 patients per arm in the original trial if I recall. In this new trial, 10 mg appeared to be more effective in that it seemed to separate from placebo while 20 mg did not. This study appears to be unpublished. I searched Pubmed and couldn’t find it. The lack of a dose response relationship should be concerning to them. The CEO in the YouTube video glosses over these inconvenient findings and seems to think the study was a success.

 

Also, it looks like one patient in this small study got status epilepticus in the 20 mg group. Not saying this is causally related but it should be noted.

https://www.europeanpharmaceuticalr...mising-autism-treatment-shows-phase-ii-study/