07/27/2013
http://www.missionir.com/vsta.html
VistaGen Therapeutics, Inc. (VSTA)
Mission Statement: To harness the transformative power of stem cell technology to screen medicine for potential heart or liver toxicity and metabolism issues before testing in animals or humans.
VistaGen Therapeutics, Inc. is a biotechnology company applying stem cell technology for drug rescue and cell therapy. Drug rescue combines human stem cell technology with modern medicinal chemistry to generate new chemical variants ("drug rescue variants") of once-promising drug candidates that have been discontinued during late-stage preclinical development due to heart or liver safety concerns. VistaGen also focuses on cell therapy, or regenerative medicine, which includes repairing, replacing or restoring damaged tissues or organs
VistaGen's versatile stem cell technology platform, Human Clinical Trials in a Test Tube™, has been developed to provide clinically relevant predictions of potential heart and liver toxicity of promising new drug candidates long before they are ever tested on humans.
By more closely approximating human biology than conventional animal studies and other nonclinical techniques and technologies currently used in drug development, VistaGen's human stem cell-based bioassay systems can improve the predictability of the drug development cycle and lower the cost of new drug research and development by identifying product failures earlier in the cost curve. According to the Food and Drug Administration even only a ten percent improvement in predicting failure before clinical trials could save $100 million in development costs, which savings ultimately could be passed on to patients.
Using mature human heart cells produced from stem cells, VistaGen has developed and internally validated CardioSafe 3D™, a novel three-dimensional (3D) bioassay system for predicting the in vivo cardiac effects of new drug candidates before they are tested in humans. VistaGen is now focused on using CardioSafe 3D™ to generate up to two new, safer small molecule drug rescue variants every twelve to eighteen months. VistaGen anticipates that these drug rescue variants will be modified versions of once-promising new drug candidates that have been discontinued by pharmaceutical companies and academic research institutions because of heart toxicity concerns, despite substantial prior investment and positive efficacy data demonstrating their potential therapeutic and commercial benefits. In most cases, VistaGen plans to license or sell its new, safer drug rescue variants in strategic partnering arrangements with global pharmaceutical companies, arrangements providing VistaGen with both near term and downstream milestone payments and economic participation rights but without future development cost obligations.
AV-101, VistaGen's lead small molecule prodrug candidate, has successfully completed Phase I clinical development in the U.S. for treatment of neuropathic pain, a serious and chronic condition affecting millions of people worldwide, depression, and other neurological diseases and conditions. To date, the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded VistaGen over $8.75 million for development of AV-101. Management anticipates strategically out-licensing AV-101 to a development and marketing partner in 2013.
VistaGen is also developing LiverSafe 3D™, a novel predictive liver toxicity and drug metabolism bioassay system for drug rescue applications. In parallel with drug rescue activities, the Company is funding early-stage nonclinical studies focused on potential cell therapy applications of its Human Clinical Trials in a Test Tube™ platform.
Key Investment Highlights
Proprietary Stem Cell Technology Addressing Costly Heart and Liver Safety Challenges in Drug Development
Drug Rescue Platform Designed to Recapture Prior Pharma R&D Investment in Once-Promising Drug Candidates
Successfully Completed NIH-Funded Phase 1 Program for New Drug Candidate for Neuropathic Pain and Depression
Experienced Management, Board, and Pharma Advisors
Stem Cell Technology Aimed at Saving Billions of Healthcare System Dollars
Recent News for VistaGen Therapeutics Inc.
Jun 28, 2013 12:12 PM EDT
VistaGen Provides Update on $36 Million Strategic Financing Agreement - Marketwired
Jun 17, 2013 10:29 AM EDT
VistaGen Therapeutics Presents CardioSafe 3D(TM) and LiverSafe 3D(TM) Developments at International Society of Stem Cell Research's 11th Annual Meeting - Marketwired
May 07, 2013 8:01 AM EDT
VistaGen Therapeutics and Duke University Publish Results on Production of Functional 3D Human Heart Tissue - Marketwired
Apr 10, 2013 1:25 PM EDT
UPDATE: VistaGen Announces $36 Million Strategic Financing Agreement - Marketwired
Apr 10, 2013 8:50 AM EDT
VistaGen Announces $36 Million Strategic Financing Agreement - Marketwired
Mar 12, 2013 11:08 AM EDT
VistaGen Therapeutics to Present Enhancements and Expanded Validation of LiverSafe 3D(TM) at Society of Toxicology's 52nd Annual Meeting - Marketwired
Mar 11, 2013 10:00 AM EDT
VistaGen Therapeutics to Present CardioSafe 3D(TM) Developments at Society of Toxicology's 52nd Annual Meeting - Marketwired
Mar 04, 2013 9:00 AM EST
VistaGen Therapeutics Enters Strategic Collaboration With Celsis to Further Advance LiverSafe 3D(TM) - Marketwired
Feb 07, 2013 10:07 AM EST
VistaGen's Collaborators Identify Definitive Precursor for Adult Blood and the Immune System - Marketwired
Jan 23, 2013 8:30 AM EST
Vistagen Therapeutics Successfully Completes Final Phase 1 Safety Study of AV-101 - Marketwired
VistaGen Therapeutics, Inc. (VSTA)
