Startup commercializing innovation to reduce neurotoxin that damages nerve cells, triggers pain

A Purdue startup is commercializing a technology that could reduce the symptoms and pain of neurological disease and injury, including multiple sclerosis, neuropathic pain and Parkinson's disease.

The innovation developed by Neuro Vigor LLC could reduce the symptoms and pain by identifying and lowering the amount of a neurotoxin, called acrolein, that rises with disease and injury, and whose reduction has potential to yield significant therapeutic benefits.

Riyi Shi (pronounced Ree Shee), a professor of neuroscience and biomedical engineering in Purdue University's Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, leads the research team for this technology. Shi also is a co-founder and the chief scientist of Neuro Vigor.

"The goal of this innovation is to develop drugs which effectively reduce or remove this poison, bringing relief to patients worldwide," Shi said. "Our preclinical research has shown by lowering acrolein we could much reduce the symptoms and pain of neurological diseases and injuries."

Neuro Vigor is now undergoing advanced preclinical research before beginning clinical trials and eventual patient use.

"Dr. Shi's technology can address several current unmet medical needs, because conventional treatments for neurological disease and neuropathic pain are often inadequate and may have serious side effects," said Mark Van Fleet, co-founder of Neuro Vigor. "By further developing and commercializing acrolein-reducing drugs, we plan to improve the lives of patients suffering from these devastating and often progressive neurological disorders"

The technology is patented through the Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization, which operates one of the most comprehensive technology transfer programs among leading research universities in the U.S.