NVG-291

NVG-291 is a first-in-class investigational therapeutic peptide developed by NervGen Pharma. It is designed to promote nervous system repair by targeting biological mechanisms that inhibit nerve regeneration and functional recovery. NVG-291 is currently being evaluated in clinical trials for spinal cord injury (SCI) and is also being studied preclinically for other neurological conditions such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and Alzheimer's disease.

How It Works

NVG-291 works by modulating the activity of receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase sigma (PTPσ), a key regulator involved in nervous system repair. After nervous system injury, scar tissue forms containing molecules called chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs). While CSPGs initially help contain damage, they later inhibit nerve regeneration by blocking axonal growth and remyelination.

NVG-291 is derived from the intracellular wedge domain of PTPσ and acts to block the inhibitory effects of CSPGs. By doing so, it removes biological "brakes" on nerve regeneration, promoting neuroplasticity (the brain and nervous system's ability to reorganize and form new connections), axonal regeneration, remyelination, and anti-inflammatory responses in microglia. This mechanism supports functional recovery in preclinical models of spinal cord injury, stroke, and peripheral nerve injury.

Benefits For Your Health

NVG-291 has shown promise in animal studies to enhance recovery of motor function, bladder control, vision, and memory after nervous system injury. It is being investigated as a treatment to improve outcomes in individuals with spinal cord injury, both in chronic (1-10 years post-injury) and subacute (20-90 days post-injury) phases.

The drug has received Fast Track designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for spinal cord injury, reflecting its potential to address an unmet medical need where no approved therapies currently exist to promote nervous system repair.

The Science Behind It

NVG-291 is based on research that identified chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) as key inhibitors of nerve regeneration after nervous system injury. CSPGs accumulate in scar tissue and suppress axonal sprouting, remyelination, and neuroplasticity. NVG-291 is a synthetic peptide derived from the intracellular wedge domain of receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase sigma (PTPσ), which interacts with CSPGs.

By binding to PTPσ, NVG-291 blocks the inhibitory signaling triggered by CSPGs, effectively releasing the "brakes" on nerve growth. This promotes axonal regeneration, remyelination of damaged nerves, and anti-inflammatory polarization of microglia, which are immune cells in the nervous system. Preclinical studies in animal models of spinal cord injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and peripheral nerve injury have demonstrated that NVG-291 enhances functional recovery, including improvements in motor skills and sensory functions.

Smart Ways to Use It

NVG-291 is currently an investigational drug undergoing clinical trials and is not available for general use or as a supplement. In clinical studies, it is administered in fixed doses under strict medical supervision, typically in a controlled trial setting.

For future therapeutic use, it is expected that consistent dosing over a period of weeks to months will be necessary to support nerve regeneration and functional recovery, as nervous system repair is a gradual process. Integration with supportive therapies such as physical rehabilitation, proper nutrition, and cognitive engagement may enhance outcomes.

Because NVG-291 targets complex cellular pathways, any use outside of clinical trials should be approached cautiously and only under professional medical guidance once approved.

What to Watch Out For

As NVG-291 is still in clinical development, its full safety profile and potential side effects are not yet fully known. Early-phase trials have focused on safety and tolerability, but larger studies are needed to identify any rare or long-term adverse effects.

Potential risks include unintended effects on other cellular signaling pathways, given the drug’s mechanism of modulating protein tyrosine phosphatase sigma. Interactions with other medications, especially those affecting the nervous system or immune response, have not been fully studied.

Patients with underlying health conditions or those taking other neurological medications should be particularly cautious. NVG-291 should only be used within approved clinical trials or after regulatory approval and medical supervision.