Latest news with #NMDA
Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
MIRA Pharmaceuticals' Lead Drug Candidate Ketamir-2 First Manuscript Accepted for Publication in the Peer-Reviewed Journal Frontiers in Pharmacology
MIAMI, FL / ACCESS Newswire / June 18, 2025 / MIRA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:MIRA) ("MIRA" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics for neurologic, neuropsychiatric, and metabolic disorders, today announced that the first manuscript describing its lead drug candidate Ketamir-2, currently being evaluated in an ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial for neuropathic pain, has been accepted for publication in the peer-reviewed journal Frontiers in Pharmacology. The article, titled "KETAMIR-2, A NEW MOLECULAR ENTITY AND NOVEL KETAMINE ANALOG," authored by Itzchak Angel, Ph.D., MIRA's Chief Scientific Advisor, highlights Ketamir-2's pharmacological differentiation from ketamine and its potential as a next-generation CNS therapeutic. Peer Review Validates Differentiated Pharmacology and Safety Acceptance into Frontiers in Pharmacology provides external scientific validation by independent experts, underscoring the rigor and credibility of MIRA's research. The publication confirms that Ketamir-2 was specifically engineered to overcome limitations associated with ketamine-such as poor oral bioavailability, dissociative side effects, and non-specific receptor binding. Key Highlights from the Publication: Highly Selective, Cleaner Mechanism: Ketamir-2 is a low-affinity NMDA receptor antagonist that selectively targets the NMDA PCP site. Unlike ketamine, Ketamir-2 showed no significant interaction with over 40 other receptors, transporters, or ion channel targets-including dopamine, opioid, serotonin, and monoaminergic systems-highlighting its clean pharmacological profile and reduced off-target Hyperlocomotion, Even at High Doses: In contrast to ketamine, Ketamir-2 did not induce hyperlocomotion in preclinical models-a behavior associated with agitation and schizophrenia-like symptoms-suggesting a favorable neurobehavioral safety Antidepressant and Anxiolytic Activity: In validated behavioral models (Open Field Test, Elevated Plus Maze, Forced Swim Test), Ketamir-2 demonstrated clear anxiolytic and antidepressant-like effects. Ketamine, used as a control, either showed no benefit or limited effect in most Delivery with Efficient Brain Penetration: All studies were conducted via the oral route. Ketamir-2 was shown to cross the blood-brain barrier and is not a substrate for P-glycoprotein, which often limits oral drug delivery to the brain. This may explain Ketamir-2's ability to maintain CNS activity despite its lower NMDA receptor affinity. "We are honored to see our foundational research on Ketamir-2 published in a high-impact scientific journal," said Erez Aminov, CEO of MIRA. "This milestone adds meaningful scientific credibility and supports our confidence in Ketamir-2's differentiated mechanism, favorable safety profile, and broad clinical potential." "This peer-reviewed publication provides clear validation of the differentiated pharmacological profile of Ketamir-2," added Dr. Itzchak Angel, Chief Scientific Advisor. "Its clean pharmacological profile and safety make it a compelling next-generation alternative to ketamine." Clinical and Corporate Updates MIRA also announced that its Phase 1 trial of Ketamir-2 is progressing as planned, with no safety concerns reported to date and dose escalation advancing. The Company expects to initiate a Phase 2a clinical trial in neuropathic pain by year-end 2025, pending regulatory clearance. In addition, the Company is preparing new scientific data submissions and presentations to further support Ketamir-2's clinical development and potential across CNS-related conditions. MIRA also reaffirmed that the acquisition of SKNY Pharmaceuticals, which includes a first-in-class oral CB1/CB2 inverse agonist for obesity and smoking cessation (SKNY-1), is progressing on track. The Company has submitted the required regulatory filings for the merger to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The publication will be available upon release at: Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release and the statements of MIRA's management related thereto contain "forward-looking statements," which are statements other than historical facts made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements may be identified by words such as "aims," "anticipates," "believes," "could," "estimates," "expects," "forecasts," "goal," "intends," "may," "plans," "possible," "potential," "seeks," "will," and variations of these words or similar expressions that are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Any statements in this press release that are not historical facts may be deemed forward-looking. Any forward-looking statements in this press release are based on MIRA's current expectations, estimates, and projections only as of the date of this release and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties (many of which are beyond MIRA's control) that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in or implied by such forward-looking statements, including related to MIRA's potential merger with SKNY Pharmaceuticals, Inc. These and other risks concerning MIRA's programs and operations are described in additional detail in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, and other SEC filings, which are on file with the SEC at and MIRA's website at MIRA explicitly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except to the extent required by law. Contact Information Helga Moyainfo@ 432-9792 SOURCE: MIRA Pharmaceuticals
Business Wire
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Arialys Therapeutics Publishes Preclinical Data in Nature Communications Supporting ART5803 as a First-in-Class Precision Therapeutic for Anti-NMDA Receptor Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disease
LA JOLLA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Arialys Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering new precision medicines for autoimmune neuropsychiatric diseases, today announced the publication of preclinical data in Nature Communications demonstrating that its lead drug candidate, ART5803, effectively blocks the underlying disease mechanism in anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis (ANRE) and rapidly reverses behavioral symptoms in a non-human primate model. The findings support the continued clinical development of ART5803 as a first-in-class, targeted therapeutic. The company is currently completing Phase 1 safety studies for ART5803 and plans Phase 2 evaluation in anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis (ANRE) and autoimmune psychosis patients in the second half of 2025. 'This study underscores the promise of ART5803 to directly address neuropsychiatric disease caused by anti-NMDA receptor-targeting pathogenic antibodies,' said Peter Flynn, Ph.D. President and CEO of Arialys Therapeutics. Share 'This study underscores the promise of ART5803 to directly address neuropsychiatric disease caused by anti-NMDA receptor-targeting pathogenic antibodies,' said Peter Flynn, Ph.D. President and CEO of Arialys Therapeutics. 'Despite our understanding of the disease mechanism and its severity, ANRE lacks an approved therapy. Further, there is a growing body of data identifying significant levels of anti-NMDA receptor autoantibodies in subpopulations of patients diagnosed with diseases that result in psychosis and dementia.' 'These data provide compelling evidence that ART5803 can directly block the pathogenic effect of autoantibodies that target the NMDA receptor, resulting in a rapid resolution of symptoms,' said Mitsuyuki (Mickey) Matsumoto, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of Arialys Therapeutics and senior author of the paper. 'Our detailed structural and functional analyses confirm that ART5803 precisely inhibits NMDA receptor internalization induced by the pathogenic autoantibodies, while preserving normal receptor function. In addition, our discovery of a potential molecular mimicry mechanism for anti-NMDA receptor autoantibody generation broadens the understanding of disease initiation and may inform future indication expansion for ART5803.' Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis (ANRE) is a rare, potentially lethal, poorly managed, and often misdiagnosed neurological disease. ANRE is caused by pathogenic autoantibodies that bind to and crosslink NMDA receptors in the brain, leading to receptor internalization and synaptic dysfunction. The result is a range of debilitating neuropsychiatric symptoms including psychiatric and behavioral alterations, cognitive decline, seizures, coma, and diminished autonomic function. A significant percentage of ANRE patients are pediatric, where NMDA receptor-specific autoantibodies can also result in neurological development deficits. There are no approved therapies for this disease, and current treatments rely on broadly immunosuppressive therapies, which are associated with delayed efficacy and significant side effects. Recent findings have also identified anti-NMDA receptor autoantibodies in other neurological and psychiatric diseases such as schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder, and dementia. Arialys is planning clinical assessment of ART5803 in anti-NMDA receptor autoantibody-positive psychosis patients. The company is also currently testing patient samples using a proprietary high-throughput screen for autoantibodies to identify enriched disease indications and subpopulations for future clinical development. ART5803 is a humanized, monovalent IgG1 antibody engineered to selectively bind the GluN1 subunit of the NMDA receptor without disrupting receptor function or causing internalization. In this study, ART5803 demonstrated the ability to potently block NMDA receptor internalization in cellular and neuronal models and reversed both molecular and behavioral hallmarks of disease in a novel marmoset model of ANRE. Notably, ART5803 exhibited rapid onset of action and was well tolerated in vivo. The publication also includes a detailed characterization of ART5803's binding epitope, its mechanism of action, and population pharmacokinetic modeling supporting the feasibility of systemic administration in patients. In addition to demonstrating the therapeutic potential of ART5803, the paper revealed a potential link between infections—specifically Toxoplasma gondii and certain bacterial pathogens—and the generation of pathogenic anti-NMDA receptor autoantibodies. Epitope mapping analysis identified regions of potential molecular mimicry between microbial proteins and the GluN1 subunit of the NMDA receptor, suggesting that infections could serve as environmental triggers for disease initiation. Notably, toxoplasmosis and bacterial infections are well-established risk factors for a range of neuropsychiatric conditions. These findings not only suggest a basis for disease pathogenesis but also support broader therapeutic opportunities for ART5803 across autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders. ART5803 is currently being evaluated in a Phase 1 clinical trial in healthy volunteers. In February 2025, Arialys announced completion of all single ascending dose (SAD) cohorts and initiation of multiple ascending dose (MAD) cohorts. The company expects to share initial clinical data in the second half of 2025 and initiate Phase 2 proof-of-concept studies. The publication was completed in collaboration with researchers from Astellas Pharma Inc., University of California, Davis, Kitasato University School of Medicine, and Vanadro LLC. About Arialys Therapeutics Arialys was founded by investors Avalon Bioventures, Catalys Pacific and MPM to meaningfully expand the treatment possibilities for neuropsychiatric disorders driven by autoimmune disease. Using a combination of highly sensitive autoantibody detection, patient sampling and receptor structural biology, Arialys has developed a first-in-class precision therapy to specifically block pathogenic autoantibodies in the brain. Arialys is headquartered in La Jolla, California. For more information, visit
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
NRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: NRXP) and HOPE Therapeutics, Inc. Announce Strategic Investor Relations Partnership with astr partners
WILMINGTON, Del., June 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- NRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: NRXP) ("NRx Pharmaceuticals", "NRx" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, and HOPE Therapeutics, Inc., ("HOPE," or the "Company"), a multi-site clinical care delivery organization and wholly-owned subsidiary of NRx, today announced a strategic investor relations partnership with astr partners, a boutique investor relations and capital advisory firm focused on the life sciences sector. "We are pleased to partner with astr partners at this important inflection point for NRx, as we have filed an ANDA, are on the precipice of completing two NDA filings and are actively acquiring profitable interventional psychiatry clinics," said Jonathan Javitt, Chairman and CEO of NRx Pharmaceuticals. "Their depth of experience in biotech investor relations, broad relationships with specialist investors and the right investment banks, as well as their commitment to precision messaging, make astr the ideal team to help amplify the ongoing value story NRx and HOPE." astr partners was founded by the industry veterans from The Trout Group, including Jonathan Fassberg and Brian Korb, who bring decades of combined experience in investor relations and healthcare capital markets. The Trout Group was the global leader in biotech investor relations, which was sold to PNC Bank. Jonathan and Brian later held senior roles at Solebury Trout and Oppenheimer & Co. The astr team works closely with biotech companies across a range of development stages — from early clinical to commercial — with a strong focus on strategic positioning and institutional engagement. "We're thrilled to support NRx and HOPE as they advance meaningful neuropsychiatry therapies toward patients with critical unmet needs," said Jonathan Fassberg and Brian Korb, Managing Partners of astr. "Our team is excited to collaborate closely with NRx and HOPE to elevate their visibility and strengthen their relationships across the investment community at this key inflection point." astr partners will work with the NRx and HOPE executive teams to execute a comprehensive investor relations program that includes investor targeting, message development, earnings preparation, conference support, and proactive investor engagement. About NRx Pharmaceuticals, Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing therapeutics based on its NMDA platform for the treatment of central nervous system disorders, specifically suicidal bipolar depression, chronic pain, and PTSD. The Company is developing NRX-101, an FDA-designated investigational Breakthrough Therapy, for suicidal treatment-resistant bipolar depression. NRx plans to file an NDA for Accelerated Approval for NRX-101 in patients with bipolar depression and suicidality or akathisia. NRX-101 additionally has potential as a treatment for complicated UTI. NRx recently filed an Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for NRX-100 (preservative free IV ketamine) for use in ketamine's currently approved indications. Additionally, the Company has initiated a New Drug Application filing for NRX-100 for the treatment of suicidal depression, based on results of well-controlled clinical trials conducted under the auspices of the US National Institutes of Health and newly obtained data from French health authorities, licensed under a data sharing agreement. NRx was awarded Fast Track Designation for development of ketamine (NRX-100) by the US FDA as part of a protocol to treat patients with acute suicidality and has filed a patent for this novel formulation with the US Patent and Trademark Office. About HOPE Therapeutics, Therapeutics, Inc. ( a subsidiary of NRx Pharmaceuticals, is a Healthcare delivery company that is building a best-in-class network of interventional psychiatry clinics to offer ketamine, transcranial magnetics stimulation (TMS), and other lifesaving therapies to patients with suicidal depression and related disorders, together with a digital therapeutic-enabled platform designed to augment and preserve the clinical benefit of NMDA-targeted drug therapy. Notice Regarding Forward-Looking StatementsThe information contained herein includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. These statements include, among others, statements regarding the satisfaction of closing conditions necessary to consummate the acquisition of Kadima, Neurospa and Dura, and obtaining financing necessary to consummate the acquisitions. Forward-looking statements generally include statements that are predictive in nature and depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, and include words such as "may," "will," "should," "would," "expect," "plan," "believe," "intend," "look forward," and other similar expressions among others. These statements relate to future events or to the Company's future financial performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond the Company's control and which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects the Company's current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to the Company's operations, results of operations, growth strategy, liquidity, whether the USPTO approves the Company's patent, and whether the FDA will approve the Company's NDA. More detailed information about the Company and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements is set forth in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Investors and security holders are urged to read these documents free of charge on the SEC's website at Except as may be required by applicable law, The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. For further information: Matthew Duffy Brian Korb Co-CEO, Hope Therapeutics, Inc. Managing Partner, astr partners Chief Business Officer, NRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (917) 653-5122 mduffy@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE NRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Wire
05-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Seyltx Expands GluN2B Antagonist Pipeline with Clinical-Stage and Small-Molecule Candidates for Chronic Cough
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Seyltx, Inc., ('Seyltx', 'Company') a clinical-stage biotherapeutics company focused on developing therapies to treat chronic cough, today announced it has entered into an option agreement with NeurOp, Inc. ('NeurOp'') for a portfolio of novel GluN2B antagonists. This agreement provides Seyltx with an option to worldwide, exclusive rights to develop and commercialize a portfolio of GluN2B negative allosteric modulators (NAMs) for treating chronic cough in humans, including in refractory chronic cough (RCC) and chronic cough associated with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF-Cough). "We are incredibly excited about this option agreement with NeurOp, which significantly strengthens our pipeline for chronic cough therapies," said Dr. Dietrich A. Stephan, Seyltx's CEO. This strategic agreement combines Seyltx's expertise in chronic cough therapeutic development with NeurOp's expertise in NMDA receptor biology and innovative GluN2B inhibitors. This combination complements and deepens Seyltx's ongoing development of Ifenprodil, a potent NMDA antagonist that is highly selective towards the GluN2B subunit, currently in Phase 2 development. The combined effort is expected to accelerate the development and commercialization of new therapies for chronic cough and solidify Seyltx's position as a leader in addressing this significant unmet medical need. The option agreement includes 8 novel compounds, including NP10679, which has completed Phase 1 and provides Seyltx with a second clinical-phase candidate, with the potential to provide differentiated performance compared to Ifenprodil. These compounds have excellent potency, selectivity, pharmacokinetics, solubility, and metabolism. Strong intellectual property exists across all optioned compounds. "We are incredibly excited about this option agreement with NeurOp, which significantly strengthens our pipeline for chronic cough therapies," said Dr. Dietrich A. Stephan, Seyltx's CEO. "Refractory chronic cough impacts approximately 6 million people in the USA alone, representing a substantial unmet medical need. Furthermore, chronic cough associated with IPF, an orphan condition affecting up to 140,000 people in the US, is a primary driver of deteriorated quality of life for these patients. Our agreement with NeurOp for advanced GluN2B NAMs, particularly NP10679, offers a promising avenue to provide potentially superior treatment options to these patients by addressing the condition with a centrally acting non-narcotic solution." Dr. James McNamara, Executive Chairman of NeurOp added, "NeurOp has been dedicated to advancing novel GluN2B-targeted therapies. This agreement with Seyltx is a testament to the sophistication of our team's expertise in the NMDA receptor biology and the development of our GluN2B antagonists. Seyltx's deep understanding and focus on chronic cough make them an ideal partner to further develop and bring these important compounds to patients in need. We look forward to a very productive partnership." NMDA is a validated therapeutic target in cough, with the only FDA-approved cough therapy being a non-specific NMDA antagonist. Preclinical research has identified the GluN2B subunit of NMDA as a primary target for cough suppression. Traditional non-specific NMDA antagonists have demonstrated limited efficacy due to dose limiting side effects. However, specifically targeting the GluN2B subunit, provides the potential to achieve robust cough suppression, while avoiding the adverse event profile observed with non-specific NMDA antagonists. The addition of NP10679 to the portfolio provides the opportunity to effectively engage the GluN2B receptor, below the safety threshold established in Phase 1, while offering a differentiated selectivity and efficacy profile compared to Ifenprodil. The option agreement has been approved by the management of both companies with a conversion to an exclusive world-wide license agreement anticipated within 12 months. About Seyltx: Seyltx ( is a clinical stage biotherapeutics company focused on developing innovative therapies to treat chronic cough and other neuronal hypersensitivity indications. Its lead indication is refractory chronic cough, a significant unmet medical need, with a follow-on opportunity in chronic cough associated with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF-Cough). Seyltx's lead compound is Ifenprodil, an NMDA receptor inhibitor highly selective towards the GluN2B subunit, which has completed a Phase 2a trial in chronic cough associated with IPF, with statistically significant reductions in cough from baseline at 12-weeks, and statistically significant improvements on all patient reported outcomes employed. Seyltx is currently progressing into Phase 2 crossover trials. About NeurOp: NeurOp, Inc. is a privately held, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company based in Atlanta, Georgia that is developing small-molecule therapies for central nervous system disorders, including severe pain, treatment-resistant depression, subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and stroke. Its proprietary compounds selectively inhibit the GluN2B subunit of neuronal NMDA receptors and are designed for potential therapeutic benefit with an improved safety and tolerability profile relative to other NMDA receptor antagonists. Forward-Looking Statements: Certain statements contained in this news release, other than statements of fact that are independently verifiable at the date hereof, may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, and other applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as 'expects,' 'anticipates,' 'believes,' 'intends,' 'estimates,' 'potential,' 'possible,' 'projects,' 'plans,' and similar expressions. Such statements, based as they are on the current expectations of management, inherently involve numerous important risks, uncertainties and assumptions, known and unknown, many of which are beyond Seyltx's control.
Scientific American
29-05-2025
- Health
- Scientific American
These Climbers Summited Mount Everest in Record Time. Did Inhaling Xenon Help?
Last week a quartet of British climbers made it to the top of Mount Everest —and spent less than a week on the total round trip from London. That's weeks fewer than it usually takes to acclimate to the high elevation, scale the world's highest peak and head home. Their guide, speaking to the New York Times, credited their accomplishment to a secret advantage: prior to the trip, the climbers inhaled xenon gas, which may have made their acclimatization to the low-oxygen environment of Everest easier. But experts on the medical uses of xenon are uncertain that it was a decisive factor. 'Maybe there is something there. We just don't know,' says Andrew Subudhi, a professor of human physiology and nutrition at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, who studies human performance in low-oxygen environments. 'From the scientific evidence, I can't see anything that is definitive or even proof-of-concept yet.' On supporting science journalism If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today. How does xenon work in the body? Xenon is a noble gas—colorless, odorless, inert. But it does affect the body. It's been used as an anesthetic on occasion since the 1950s, says Robert Dickinson, a senior lecturer in medicine at Imperial College London. Dickinson has long studied another intriguing aspect of xenon: the gas has shown neuroprotective effects after a brain injury such as a stroke or a traumatic blow to the head. This protective quality has been demonstrated in many animal studies and a handful of small human trials, Dickinson says. Both the anesthetic and potential neuroprotective effects occur because xenon can bind to brain receptors called N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. Activating these receptors has an excitatory effect on neurons, but xenon tamps down NMDA activity. After a brain injury, NMDA receptors can become overexcited, causing further cell death, so quieting these receptors might prevent additional damage. Those are xenon's best-studied effects on human health. But the gas has also piqued interest in the sports medicine world because it can increase the production of erythropoietin (EPO), a hormone that is known to stimulate the bone marrow to increase its production of red blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen, which is, of course, in short supply on the icy slopes of Mount Everest. Can xenon really acclimate someone to high elevations? Before attempting Everest's summit, climbers must hang out in Kathmandu, Nepal, and then Everest Base Camp for weeks, lest they fall prey to altitude sickness, which is marked by fatigue, headache, nausea and confusion. In serious cases, the lungs fill with fluid or the brain swells, which can quickly lead to death. The air at Everest Base Camp contains about half the oxygen as is present at sea level, and the air at the summit contains a mere 33 percent. Xenon's potential to increase the production of red blood cells, thus increasing the blood's ability carry oxygen, raises the question of whether it might provide a performance boost or prevent altitude sickness in the athletes climbing the world's highest peaks. The problem is: no one really knows if the EPO boost provided by xenon is enough to make a real difference in how someone handles a high elevation. Davide Cattano, an anesthesiologist at the McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, did some of the animal research that has shown that xenon increases a blood factor called hypoxia-inducible factor 1–alpha (HIF-1α), which in turn can increase EPO. He's skeptical that the recent Everest climbers saw much benefit. 'The level of HIF that you're inducing does not justify this superhuman capability,' Cattano says. One 2019 study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology tested 12 runners who were randomly assigned to inhale air that contained 70 percent xenon or a sham gas for two minutes each day for several weeks before they ran three kilometers. The runners who inhaled xenon saw an increase in EPO in their blood, but they didn't show any improvement in fitness or athletic performance, as measured by their running speed and their heart rate and respiration during exercise. Even dosing people with EPO directly with injections may not prevent altitude sickness or improve performance at high elevation, Subudhi says. In a study that is currently in review for publication in a scientific journal, he and his colleagues tested EPO injections on a small group of mountain-climbing athletes, and these subjects didn't see any benefits. It's possible a different dose or a longer course of treatment might make a difference, Subudhi says, but 'my enthusiasm for chasing that is much less when I didn't see anybody have a measurable benefit.' Why did the recent Everest climbers reach the peak so quickly? It is possible xenon improved the climbers' oxygen-carrying capacity by boosting their EPO, experts say. It's also possible the anesthetic and analgesic effects of the gas ameliorated the climbers' aches and pains or the fatigue from altitude, Cattano speculates. Just the act of breathing a heavy gas like xenon might also result in some change to lung capacity, he says, even if the EPO effect is small. But the athletes also did something else: they slept in hypoxic tents for weeks before traveling to the mountain. These tents create a low-oxygen environment, which definitely increases EPO and red blood cell production. This preacclimatization, plus the climbers' intensive training regime, may have done the trick. Whether the xenon added any benefit on top of the hypoxic tents is unclear, Dickinson says. Xenon is expensive, which has limited its use as an anesthetic and in athletics. But more people will probably shell out for the gas, given that the baseline cost of climbing Mount Everest is so expensive and the stakes are so high, Subudhi says. 'People are literally fighting for their lives at high altitudes, and if you're doing things that may give you a small chance of improving your rate of success, yeah, it might be worth it to some people,' he says. 'Not everybody is going to sit there and make a completely scientific decision about their life.'
