Dr. Cruz reportsTransition Therapeutics Inc. has confirmed that an oral presentation demonstrating that AZD-103 neutralizes and rescues amyloid beta inhibition of synaptic transmission in a leading experimental model associated with learning and memory was made at the Keystone Symposia on Alzheimer's disease held in Breckenridge, Colo. The presentation was entitled "The Cyclohexanehexol, AZD-103, Neutralizes Cell-derived A-Beta Oligomers and Rescues Hippocampal Long-Term Potentiation." The studies were performed in the laboratory of Dr. Dennis Selkoe at Brigham and Women's Hospital of the Harvard University School of Medicine in Boston, Mass.
This standard assay of hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) has been extensively described in the literature, and is widely accepted as a measure of synaptic efficacy and plasticity in the brain. The cellular and molecular basis of LTP employs closely similar mechanisms to those necessary for learning and memory in humans. In these studies, AZD-103 was shown to be highly effective at neutralizing the short-term effects of amyloid beta oligomers on synaptic function in the hippocampal slices from mice. Based on these very encouraging findings, AZD-103 continues to demonstrate the efficacy and safety profile necessary to be considered as a leading drug candidate for the treatment of Alzheimer's patients.
About AZD-103
The lead compound AZD-103 is part of an emerging class of disease-modifying agents that have the potential to both reduce disease progression and improve symptoms such as cognitive function. AZD-103 breaks down neurotoxic fibrils, allowing amyloid peptides to clear from the brain rather than accumulate and total to form amyloid plaques, a hallmark pathology of Alzheimer's disease. In addition, AZD-103 is well positioned as an Alzheimer's therapy as it is taken orally, crosses the blood brain barrier and has an excellent safety profile.
About Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive brain disorder that gradually destroys a person's memory and ability to learn, reason, make judgments, communicate and carry out daily activities. The disease affects more than four million Americans, and with an aging population is expected to double over the next 20 years unless an effective therapy is developed. Currently approved Alzheimer's therapies primarily treat disease symptoms but do not reverse or slow down disease progression. These products have annual sales of $3.1-billion (U.S.); however, the Alzheimer's pharmaceutical market is expected to grow significantly with the arrival of products that alter disease progression.