Lys Therapeutics is a pioneering biotechnology company dedicated to addressing unmet medical needs in patients afflicted with neurovascular or neurodegenerative disorders through a revolutionary approach targeting blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction.

Lys Therapeutics’ approach of targeting neuroinflammation to combat neurodegeneration represents a promising avenue in the quest for effective treatments for these debilitating disorders.

In the pathophysiology of various neurological diseases such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease, hyperactivation of endothelial NMDA receptors (NMDAr) by overexpressed tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) leads to the degradation of tight junctions and subsequent BBB dysfunction. This process allows inflammatory cells and toxic molecules to migrate into the brain parenchyma, triggering severe neuroinflammation and excitotoxicity, which are primary contributors to neurodegeneration.

Lys Therapeutics’ lead compound, LYS241, is a first-in-class monoclonal antibody with a groundbreaking mechanism of action that effectively counters these pathological mechanisms. Specifically, LYS241 acts within blood vessels to prevent the binding of tPA to NMDAr, without interfering with the physiological function of NMDA receptors. By inhibiting this interaction, NMDA receptors can function normally, thereby halting downstream deleterious cellular pathways. As a result, tight junctions are reinstated, endothelial cells regain their healthy state, and BBB function is restored, shielding the brain from further neuroinflammatory and subsequent neurodegenerative cascades.

–  Therapeutic areas: Neurology, CNS, Neurovascular diseases, Neurodegenerative disorders

–  Based in: Lyon and Caen (FRANCE)

–  Employees: 11 – 50

–  Created in: 2021