# A New Anti-inflammatory Therapy for Ischemic Stroke

> **NIH NIH R42** · CORNOVUS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. · 2024 · $934,548

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Current therapy for patients with ischemic stroke is limited and new treatment is needed since
the mortality and morbidity of this population remain high. Effort aimed at blocking immune cell-
mediated inflammation with enhanced inflammation resolution represents a novel approach.
The specific background for the proposed project is that we have identified a lead drug
candidate through our collaboration with Dr. Kenneth A. Jacobson at NIH and have
demonstrated anti-stroke efficacy in an established murine ischemic stroke model and have
shown potency in blocking human P2X4R in myeloid cells of healthy subjects. The Company is
collaborating with its academic partner University of Connecticut School of Medicine’s research
laboratories, and Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry of the National Institute of Diabetes,
Digestive and Kidney Diseases of NIH. The Company, with its resources, has had STTR Phase
1 funding and should be well positioned to perform IND-enabling studies. The objective of the
grant is to conduct IND-enabling process chemistry, GLP manufacturing of the lead compound
and safety/toxicity studies. The proposed studies should add to scientific knowledge on the
chemistry and pharmacology of P2X4 antagonists and may also yield new insights into the
science of such an anti-inflammatory approach. Pending successful outcomes, the proposal
should position the Company to prepare an IND application to the FDA.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10812579
- **Project number:** 2R42HL156322-02A1
- **Recipient organization:** CORNOVUS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** Bruce T Liang
- **Activity code:** R42 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $934,548
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2020-12-15 → 2026-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10812579

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10812579, A New Anti-inflammatory Therapy for Ischemic Stroke (2R42HL156322-02A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10812579. Licensed CC0.

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