- Algernon Pharmaceuticals (AGN) has appointed Dr. Peter Dicpinigaitis, MD, as a medical consultant for the company’s chronic cough research program
- Dr. Dicpinigaitis will be advising the company on its planned 180-patient, Phase 2b chronic cough study of NP-120
- Dr. Dicpinigaitis is board-certified in Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Diseases and Critical Care Medicine
- A major focus of Dr. Dicpinigaitis’ clinical research for over 25 years has been in the area of cough
- Algernon Pharmaceuticals is a Canadian clinical-stage drug development and repurposing company
- Algernon Pharmaceuticals Inc. (AGN) is down 1.79 per cent on the day, trading at C$2.20 per share at 10:15 am ET
Algernon Pharmaceuticals (AGN) has appointed Dr. Peter Dicpinigaitis, MD, as a medical consultant for the company’s chronic cough research program.
Dr. Dicpinigaitis, Professor of Medicine at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, will be advising the company on its previously announced 180-patient, Phase 2b chronic cough study of NP-120 (Ifenprodil).
Dr. Dicpinigaitis is board-certified in Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Diseases and Critical Care Medicine. He is a faculty member of the Division of Critical Care Medicine at Montefiore Medical Center. He is the founder and director of the Montefiore Cough Center, one of the few specialty centers in the world exclusively committed to the evaluation and management of patients with chronic cough.
He received his undergraduate education at New York University (NYU), where he graduated summa cum laude with a degree in biochemistry. He obtained his medical degree from the NYU School of Medicine and remained at NYU-Bellevue for internal medicine residency training. He completed a fellowship in pulmonary & critical care medicine at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, immediately after which he came to Einstein/Montefiore.
A major focus of Dr. Dicpinigaitis’ clinical research for over 25 years has been in the area of cough. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters on cough and is considered an authority on the performance of cough challenge studies in clinical research. He served as a co-author on cough management guidelines published by the American College of Chest Physicians as well as the European Respiratory Society and is the founder and chairman of the biannual American Cough Conference. Dr. Dicpinigaitis also serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the journal LUNG.
“We are very pleased that Dr. Dicpinigaitis has joined Algernon as a medical advisor,” said Christopher J. Moreau, CEO of Algernon Pharmaceuticals.
“We look forward to working with him as we advance towards our upcoming Phase 2b chronic cough study of NP-120 (Ifenprodil).”
Chronic cough continues to be one of the most common reasons that adults consult medical doctors. Some cases of chronic cough are so debilitating that quality of life is severely impacted.
Ifenprodil selectively inhibits N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors containing the NR2B subunit. NMDA receptors are ion channels found within the central and peripheral nervous system, including the area of the brain responsible for coordinating the cough reflex. By inhibiting NMDA receptors, Ifenprodil can diminish the excitability of neurons and prevent the relaying of information along neuronal circuitry, including the cough reflex. Ifenprodil may also inhibit the neuroplastic enhancement of central and peripheral cough response neurons.
Algernon Pharmaceuticals is a Canadian clinical-stage drug development and repurposing company addressing global unmet medical needs, including stroke, chronic kidney disease and IPF with chronic cough.
Algernon Pharmaceuticals Inc. (AGN) is down 1.79 per cent on the day, trading at C$2.20 per share at 10:15 am ET.
