Avinia, LLC

Unlocking New Treatments for Inflammatory and Neurodegenerative Conditions

Avinia is transforming anacardic acid from the cashew plant into a high-purity therapeutic agent designed to cross the blood-brain barrier and to promote brain health.

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WHAT WE DO

OUR VISION

Avinia is dedicated to developing small molecule compounds from natural sources as novel agents for improving health and well-being.

We have chosen the products of the cashew plant as the first of our natural products for development. Anacardic acid is the main ingredient of the cashew fruit and shell. It has been used widely used in many cultures for medicinal purposes and as a dietary supplement

Unlocking new treatments for inflammatory and neurodegenerative conditions

Phase 1

Anacardic acid as a dietary ingredient.

Phase 2

Anacardic Acid as a therapeutic agent for inflammatory disorders.

Phase 3

Synthetic analogs of anacardic acid as novel drug targets.

The Cashew

The cashew fruit and seed come from Anacardium Occidentale, an angiosperm from the Anacardiacae family. Many parts of the Anacardium Occidentale, including the fruit and the nut, have been used for medicinal purposes for hundreds of years.

The main ingredients shown to have medicinal value and health benefits are the different forms of anacardic acid, which is obtained from the fruit nuts and the covering shell of the nut.

The use of anacardic acid and its analogs has remained a medicinal curiosity, without entry as a nutritional supplement or as new compounds for future drug development.

BAckground

Natural medicinal value and health benefits

Antioxidant Properties: Anacardic acid has been found to inhibit pro-oxidant enzymes involved in the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Hence, its potential use in many disorders characterized by oxidative stress such as that seen in neurodegenerative diseases.
Antiproliferative Activity: Antiproliferative activities have been thought to be due to the inhibition of histone acetyltransferase, an enzyme thought to play a role in cell proliferation and death.
Modulation of Inflammation: Inhibition of SUMOylation and the attendant downstream effects of de-SUMOylation on inflammation.

red cashew fruit isolated on white background

Phase 1

Anacardic acid as a dietary ingredient

Purity & Scale: Synthesized >99.9% pure saturated form of anacardic acid.

Shelf-Life: Completed extended stability testing of the compound.

Safety Profile: Finished in vitro genotoxic and long-term in vivo toxicological studies.

FDA Approved: Avinia has received approval for the use of anacardic acid as a dietary supplement and have received approval from the FDA as, “generally regarded as safe” (GRAS).

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Phase 2

Anacardic acid in preclinical models of inflammation and repair

Therapeutic Exploration: Investigate the potential of anacardic acid in animal models of inflammatory diseases.
Pharmacokinetics: Complete comprehensive studies on the bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of the compound.
Intellectual Property: Secure and complete IP (Intellectual Property) on the formulation of the compound across India and Europe.