Study to test nasal spray at restoring loss of smell in Parkinson’s
CYR-064 delivers theophylline, a bronchodilator used to treat asthma, COPD
Cyrano Therapeutics is supporting an investigator-initiated clinical study that will evaluate CYR-064, its leading nasal candidate therapy, to restore smell loss in Parkinson’s disease.
The study, led by neurologist David Silvers, MD, in Palm Beach Gardens in Florida, seeks to enroll 15 to 20 adults, ages 18-80, with moderate to severe partial smell loss due to Parkinson’s, according to a press release.
The participants will receive CYR-064 through two sprays per nostril, twice a day, for 24 weeks, or almost six months. The goal is to assess the feasibility, safety, and effectiveness of CYR-064 at improving the sense of smell and taste perception.
Smell loss, occurring either partially (hyposmia) or completely (anosmia), affects about 95% of Parkinson’s patients in the U.S. and is often one of the earliest symptoms, appearing years before motor impairments. The inability to smell impacts taste, reduces appetite, and contributes to weight loss, common problems in Parkinson’s disease.
“Hyposmia is a challenging and debilitating symptom for many Parkinson’s patients, and innovative approaches like CYR-064 are critically needed,” Silvers said. “We look forward to assessing this promising therapy’s potential to address a significant unmet need in Parkinson’s care.”
What is CYR-064?
CYR-064 delivers theophylline, a bronchodilator commonly used for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Bronchodilators are a class of medications that relax and widen the bronchi, the airways in the lungs, which eases the passage of air and improves respiratory function. Theophylline is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug administration for oral and into-the-vein infusion for COPD.
The new formulation uses a proprietary spray device technology that enables targeted delivery to the olfactory region, thereby sidestepping the side effects of whole-body (systemic) therapies.
“The potential to restore the sense of smell in Parkinson’s patients represents a significant step forward in addressing an often-overlooked aspect of the disease that decreases a patient’s quality of life and contributes to the decline of their nutritional health,” said Rick Geoffrion, co-founder and CEO of Cyrano Therapeutics. “We are excited to support this important investigator-initiated study, which aligns with our mission to improve the lives of individuals living with chronic loss of smell and the associated loss of taste perception.”
Cyrano Therapeutics is also conducting a larger 150-patient Phase 2 clinical trial across 14 sites in the U.S. to evaluate CYR-064 in post-viral smell loss. Results are expected later this year.
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