Alyra Biotech is an early stage bio-pharmaceutical company with novel, patented, first-in-class, neuroimmune-modifying, intrauterine products to treat neuroimmune conditions including pain in women.
We modulate the Uterus-Brain Axis to reduce pelvic pain, bowel and bladder symptoms, headache, fatigue, endometriosis-associated pain and premenstrual syndrome.
Alyra Biotech is guided by our close collaboration with consumers and our in-house end user research. Women are the centre of our innovation process.
Alyra Biotech Corporate Highlights
Committed to improving the management of pain and wellbeing in women
Patents granted in US, China, Australia. Additional patents pending.
Products driven by patient experience, and backed by novel scientific innovation
Expert management team with proven development & commercial success in women’s health
Immune activation within the uterus
Most of us have heard about the Gut-Brain Axis: the way our bowel talks to our brain and influences how we feel.
The uterus talks to our brain via the immune system too. That’s the Uterus-Brain Axis.
Some women have excess activation of the immune system in their uterus. This causes cells called glia in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) to become over-activated too. These cells change the way the nerves in the brain work and can cause women to suffer symptoms including pain, fatigue, mood disorders and poor sleep. Too much activation of the Uterus-Brain Axis can also contribute to Irritable Bowel or Painful Bladder symptoms, as the Uterus and Bowel share similar nerve pathways.
This process involves special immune receptors called Toll-Like Receptor 4 (TLR4) receptors. These receptors are activated by bacteria, but they are also activated by the breakdown of tissue and the presence of blood. Tissue breakdown and blood are both present during menstruation.
How does immune activation in the uterus impact the central nervous system?
We already know that women with pelvic pain, period pain and endometriosis have increased TLR4 activity in their uterus. Once this occurs, this affects the central nervous system in a few ways:
- Nerves within the uterus become inflamed and transmit this neuroinflammation to the spinal cord and brain.
- Immune cells from our blood circulation transit through the uterus, become activated, and then travel via the blood circulation to the central nervous system.
- Immune cells in the uterus release chemicals called cytokines that travel to the central nervous system and make us feel unwell.
By reducing inflammation in the uterus, we reduce these factors.
References:
Alyra Biotech Products
Alyra Biotech’s Lead Device will reduce the pain experienced by women in the months after IUD insertion. This will allow more women to successfully use an IUD, reduce their menstrual bleeding and reduce their pelvic pain.
Additional devices across a range of medical indications are envisaged.
Product development is de-risked by using drugs with known efficacy and long-term safety data in humans.
Targeted intrauterine release allows low dose, sustained drug release, with reduced systemic side effects.
We add an immune-inhibitor to an intrauterine device.
