New scientific article on NeuroRestore ACD856 and its improved cognition and disease modification of Alzheimer’s disease

AlzeCure Pharma AB (publ) (FN STO: ALZCUR), a pharmaceutical company that develops candidate drugs for diseases affecting the nervous system, focusing on Alzheimer's disease and pain, today announced that a scientific article has been published on the underlying biological mechanisms behind the NeuroRestore platform and the interesting opportunities this entails in the further development of the clinical drug candidate ACD856.

The article, titled Positive allosteric modulators of Trk-receptors for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, was published online in the journal Pharmaceuticals and was written by Pontus Forsell, PhD and Head of Discovery and Research at AlzeCure Pharma. Co-authors are Cristina Parrado Fernández, Boel Nilsson, Johan Sandin, Gunnar Nordvall and Märta Segerdahl.

The published review article focuses on describing the history, biology and concept behind the development of a new class of pharmaceutical substances, so-called positive allosteric modulators of Trk receptors (Trk-PAMs). Trk-PAMs are a class of drug substances being developed in parallel by AlzeCure and Eisai. Both companies have reported promising preclinical and clinical results. Several attempts to develop Trk-PAMs have been made in the past, but so far only AlzeCure and Eisai have identified good enough substances for clinical trials. ACD856 and the other Trk-PAM substances in the NeuroRestore platform stimulate several important signaling systems and signaling substances in the brain such as BDNF (Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor) and NGF (Nerve Growth Factor), which can lead to improved cognition.

Previous preclinical studies have shown that AlzeCure's drug candidates strengthen communication between nerve cells and improve cognitive ability, including learning and memory functions. Preclinical results from AlzeCure also show neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory and disease-modifying effects in various models with Trk-PAM substances. The unique pharmacological mechanism of NeuroRestore also enables several indications, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, but also depression. ACD856 is a first-in-class drug candidate for Alzheimer's disease and is now being prepared for upcoming phase II clinical studies in patients.

"The publication shows the exciting development possibilities for Trk-PAM substances such as ACD856, as well as the pharmacological mechanism behind them. With the positive Phase I clinical data we have previously obtained, we see very interesting further development paths for ACD856. Substances such as Trk-PAMs may well be a future complement to anti-amyloid treatments, such as Donanemab and Lecanemab, for patients with Alzheimer's disease," said Pontus Forsell, Head of Discovery and Research at AlzeCure Pharma.

“There is a great medical need for effective and safe treatments for Alzheimer's disease. The new data we have published over the past year supporting both memory-enhancing and disease-modifying effects show very exciting potential in our project ACD856 and strengthen our out-licensing opportunities," said Martin Jönsson, CEO of AlzeCure Pharma.