Highlights:

  • Nyrada (ASX:NYR) was trading at AUD 0.76, up 3.38% during the afternoon Trading session on 21 August 2026.
  • Xolatryp demonstrated protection against doxorubicin-induced cardiac dysfunction in a preclinical study.
  • The treatment effect was sustained through Week 5 across four key measures of heart function.
  • Functional protection was comparable to dexrazoxane, an approved cardioprotective agent used as a study benchmark.
  • Nyrada will assess the design and feasibility of a potential Phase Ib oncology trial for Xolatryp.

Nyrada Inc (ASX:NYR) has reported positive findings from a preclinical study evaluating its lead candidate Xolatryp® in protecting cardiac function against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity.

The biotechnology company said the study demonstrated sustained protection across multiple measures of heart performance, adding further data to Xolatryp’s potential development pathway as an adjunct therapy alongside anthracycline treatments.

Nyrada was trading at AUD 0.76, up 3.38% during the afternoon trading session on 21 August 2026. The company’s shares remain up 183.33% over the past year.

Xolatryp Shows Protection Against Doxorubicin-Related Cardiac Damage

Nyrada completed a preclinical study assessing Xolatryp in a model of doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity.

Doxorubicin is a widely used anthracycline chemotherapy treatment, but its cumulative use can result in dose-dependent cardiac injury that may limit treatment Options for some patients.

In the study, Xolatryp was assessed against doxorubicin alone, with dexrazoxane included as an established cardioprotective agent and positive control.

Nyrada reported that Xolatryp significantly reduced the impact of doxorubicin on cardiac function across four key measurements:

  • Ejection fraction (EF).
  • Fractional shortening (FS).
  • End-systolic Volume (ESV).
  • Left ventricular internal diameter at end-systole (LVIDs).

The company said the protective effects were statistically significant across all four parameters at Week 3 and remained evident through Week 5.

Functional Protection Comparable to Dexrazoxane Benchmark

Nyrada said the magnitude of functional protection observed with Xolatryp was comparable to dexrazoxane.

At Week 5, doxorubicin treatment resulted in a 46.0% decline in ejection fraction, while the decline was reduced to 30.3% when Xolatryp was administered alongside doxorubicin.

The company reported that this represented a 34% reduction in decline compared with doxorubicin alone.

Fractional shortening also showed improvement, with Xolatryp reducing the decline compared with doxorubicin alone.

For end-systolic volume, Xolatryp reduced the increase associated with doxorubicin treatment, while LVIDs measurements also showed reduced deterioration.

Nyrada noted that the study was not designed or powered to establish superiority over dexrazoxane, and no such conclusion should be drawn.

Histopathology Supports Functional Findings

The study also included blinded histopathological analysis of cardiac tissue.

Nyrada reported that doxorubicin treatment resulted in myocardial injury features including disrupted myocardial fibres, focal myofibre rupture, widened intercellular spaces, oedema and inflammatory-cell infiltration.

Treatment with Xolatryp reduced the severity of observed injury, with treated animals showing predominantly mild focal myocardial injury compared with predominantly moderate focal injury observed with doxorubicin alone.

Mean myocardial collagen content was reduced from 17.4% with doxorubicin alone to 13.2% with Xolatryp, representing an approximately 24% numerical reduction.

The company classified this collagen reduction as supportive rather than confirmatory because it did not reach statistical significance.

Xolatryp Program Expands Across Oncology Applications

Nyrada said the cardioprotection study complements previous preclinical tumour-model data, where Xolatryp demonstrated anti-tumour activity as a standalone treatment and additive activity when combined with doxorubicin.

Together, the cardiac and tumour studies support the potential development of Xolatryp as an adjunct therapy designed to address both cardiac protection and cancer treatment outcomes.

The company is now assessing the design and feasibility of a potential Phase Ib clinical trial of Xolatryp in the oncology setting.

Xolatryp Development Continues Across Multiple Indications

Nyrada is developing small-molecule therapies targeting Transient Receptor Potential Canonical (TRPC) ion channels.

Xolatryp is a selective inhibitor of TRPC3, TRPC6 and TRPC7 channels.

The candidate has completed a Phase I clinical trial assessing safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics, while a Phase IIa clinical trial has commenced evaluating Xolatryp in reducing cardiac reperfusion injury in patients with ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) undergoing PCI.

The company is also investigating Xolatryp across cardioprotection, neuroprotection and oncology applications.

Investor Takeaway

Nyrada’s latest update adds further preclinical evidence for Xolatryp, with the company reporting sustained protection against doxorubicin-induced cardiac dysfunction and supportive tissue analysis.

The findings expand the development potential of Xolatryp in oncology applications, while the company continues its existing clinical development activities.

Investors may continue to monitor future clinical trial planning, regulatory progress and additional data generated across Xolatryp’s development programs.