Neurochlore

The company Neurochlore is developing an innovative therapeutic strategy to ameliorate developmental brain pathologies. Located Luminy (Marseille), the company has formed close links with internationally recognized scientific experts in some fields of developmental Neurobiology and neurological disorders. Furthermore, extensive collaborations with drug developers and clinical experts in neuro-pediatrics and psychiatry enable Neurochlore to develop and test novel applications for its therapeutic agent. Indeed, Neurochlore has an international patent in the use of a diuretic in the treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and another syndrome associated with autism. Clinical Research Neurochlore is currently developing a treatment which will be able to ameliorate ASD in children and adolescents. The company has already conducted a successful monocentric study (Lemonnier et al., Translational Psychiatry, 2012) and a multicentric phase II clinical trial in order to confirm the efficacy and tolerance of this new treatment (Lemonnier et al., article in press). This study will be soon followed by a double-blind randomized phase III study that, if successful, will allow to submit a registration application to the European health authorities. Fundamental Research Fundamental research at Neurochlore is organized around a wide range of animal models of ASD and syndromes with associated autism. Research topics are focused on the study of developmental sequence modifications of GABAergic/glutamatergic currents in pathologies, focusing in the periods in utero and during birth. To determine the features of malformed brain currents/networks, a large range of techniques is used including electrophysiological recordings of in vitro slices, in vivo recordings, morphological analysis… The fundamental research is financed by external sources notably the Bettencourt Schueller Foundation.