NervGen Pharma Corp. has appointed Dr. Randall Kaye as Chief Medical Advisor, expanding his role from Board member and Science Committee Chair to provide strategic guidance for the company's lead neuroreparative therapeutic NVG-291. The appointment follows positive topline results from the chronic cohort of NervGen's Phase 1b/2a clinical trial evaluating NVG-291 in individuals with cervical spinal cord injury.
Dr. Kaye brings extensive experience in central nervous system therapeutic development, regulatory strategy, and medical affairs to NervGen's leadership team. He previously served as chief medical officer at multiple biopharmaceutical companies, most recently at Longboard Pharmaceuticals Inc., where he helped guide CNS development programs through a $2.6 billion acquisition by H. Lundbeck A/S.
"In addition to his close history and contributions to the NVG-291 program, he brings extensive industry and CNS development expertise focused on clinical and regulatory strategy," said Mike Kelly, NervGen's President & CEO. "Dr. Kaye has highly relevant experience and is well positioned to assist the team in analyzing the complete chronic cohort data and help chart the next phase of NVG-291's clinical and regulatory pathway."
Clinical Trial Progress and FDA Engagement
The expanded appointment comes as NervGen prepares for an anticipated meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in the second half of 2025. Dr. Kaye will assist in preparations for this regulatory milestone, leveraging his expertise in clinical operations, regulatory affairs, and medical strategy.
NervGen's Phase 1b/2a clinical trial is evaluating NVG-291 in two cohorts: a chronic cohort (1-10 years post-injury) and a subacute cohort (20-90 days post-injury). Topline data from the chronic cohort showed that NVG-291 met its primary endpoint and demonstrated promising changes in a secondary endpoint assessing hand function. Enrollment in the subacute cohort continues.
NVG-291 Mechanism and Development
NervGen holds exclusive worldwide rights to NVG-291, a first-in-class therapeutic peptide targeting nervous system repair. The technology is licensed from Case Western Reserve University and is based on academic studies that demonstrated the preclinical efficacy of NVG-291-R, the rodent prototype, in animal models of spinal cord injury.
The preclinical studies implicated several potential molecular and cellular mechanisms by which NVG-291-R promotes neurorepair and functional improvement in both central and peripheral nervous system injury models. These mechanisms include the promotion of neuronal sprouting or plasticity, remyelination, and promotion of a non-inflammatory phenotype in microglial cells.
NervGen has received Fast Track designation from the FDA for NVG-291 in individuals with spinal cord injury, expediting the regulatory pathway for this innovative therapeutic approach.
Leadership Expertise and Pipeline Development
Dr. Kaye earned his MD, MPH, and BS degrees from George Washington University and completed a Research Fellowship at Harvard Medical School. His expertise spans neurology, psychiatry, immunology, and infectious disease, providing comprehensive knowledge relevant to NervGen's neuroreparative therapeutic programs.
Beyond NVG-291, NervGen has initiated preclinical test of concept evaluation of its pipeline candidate, NVG-300, in models of ischemic stroke and spinal cord injury, expanding the company's potential therapeutic applications in nervous system repair.
The clinical-stage biotech company is dedicated to developing innovative treatments to promote nervous system repair in settings of neurotrauma and neurologic disease, positioning itself at the forefront of neuroreparative medicine development.
