GENEVA, SWITZERLAND--(Marketwire - September 02, 2010) -
Addex Pharmaceuticals / Addex drug-candidate effective in Alzheimer's
disease model processed and transmitted by Hugin AS. The issuer is solely
responsible for the content of this announcement.
Allosteric modulation company Addex
Pharmaceuticals Ltd (SWISS: ADXN) announced today that it has observed
efficacy in
a model of Alzheimer's disease using a recently discovered orally-
available
drug-candidate. The proprietary molecule specifically inhibits a
receptor
subtype called the metabotropic glutamate receptor 2 (mGluR2) via
negative
allosteric modulation (NAM). An Addex mGluR2 NAM is scheduled to enter
Phase I
clinical testing in healthy volunteers during 2011.
"Specifically targeting the signaling of the neurotransmitter glutamate
using
mGluR2 NAM is one of the most promising avenues of research for
treating
cognitive symptoms of Alzheimer's disease," said Vincent Mutel, CEO of
Addex.
"We are excited that our mGluR2 NAM has shown that it can improve memory in
this
pathophysiologically relevant model. Although we are years away from
knowing if
the drug will work in humans, recently published academic research suggests
that
mGluR2 inhibition also may slow the progression of this devastating
disease."
The Addex mGluR2 NAM was tested in a model that mimics aspects
of the
pathophysiology and cognitive impairment, including progressive
memory
impairment, observed in human Alzheimer's disease. In the preclinical
study, the
mGluR2 NAM dose-dependently reversed memory deficit exhibited after beta-
amyloid
administration. Working memory impairment was measured using the novel
object
recognition (NOR) test. The statistically significant effect was similar
to the
active comparator used in the same experiment, donepezil (Aricept),
the
benchmark marketed drug currently used to treat symptoms of Alzheimer's
disease.
Furthermore, the mGluR2 NAM did not change locomotor activity
compared to
vehicle.
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive brain disease affecting up to 5.3
million
Americans and the seventh-leading cause of death in the United
States. It
destroys brain cells causing memory loss and problems with
thinking and
behavior. There is no cure and marketed drugs offer temporary moderate
efficacy.
mGluR2 is a G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) that is expressed in the
brain on
presynaptic nerve terminals where it slows glutamate release. Research has
shown
that too much signaling by mGluR2 may negatively impact the survival of
brain
cells involved in memory, contributing to the cause of Alzheimer's
disease.
Additional research, including the data discussed above, suggests that
mGluR2
inhibition can improve working memory, even in cases where memory
already has
been impaired.
Addex Pharmaceuticals (www.addexpharma.com) discovers and develops
allosteric
modulators for human health and is focused on validated therapeutic
targets for
diseases of the central nervous system, metabolic disorders and
inflammation.
Subject to regulatory approvals, Phase II clinical trials are expected to
start
soon in four indications for two lead products: ADX48621, an mGluR5
negative
allosteric modulator (NAM), in dystonia and Parkinson's disease levodopa-
induced
dyskinesia (PD-LID); and ADX71149, an mGluR2 positive allosteric
modulator
(PAM), in schizophrenia and anxiety. A third product, ADX71943, GABA-B
receptor
PAM with potential for chronic pain, is scheduled to enter Phase I
testing in
2011. In addition, Merck & Co., Inc. has licensed rights to two
preclinical
products: mGluR4 PAM for Parkinson's disease and mGluR5 PAM for
schizophrenia.
Additional preclinical discovery stage programs include: GLP1R PAM,
IL1R1 NAM
and TNFR1 NAM. Roche Venture Fund and SR-One, corporate venture
arm of
GlaxoSmithKline, are investors in Addex.
Chris Maggos
Investor Relations & Communications
Addex Pharmaceuticals
+41 22 884 15 11
chris.maggos@addexpharma.com
Disclaimer: The foregoing release may contain forward-looking statements
that
can be identified by terminology such as "not approvable",
"continue",
"believes", "believe", "will", "remained open to exploring", "would",
"could",
or similar expressions, or by express or implied discussions regarding
Addex
Pharmaceuticals Ltd, its business, the potential approval of its
products by
regulatory authorities, or regarding potential future revenues from
such
products. Such forward-looking statements reflect the current views of
Addex
Pharmaceuticals Ltd regarding future events, future economic
performance or
prospects, and, by their very nature, involve inherent risks and
uncertainties,
both general and specific, whether known or unknown, and/or any other
factor
that may materially differ from the plans, objectives, expectations,
estimates
and intentions expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements.
Such may
in particular cause actual results with allosteric modulators of mGluR2,
mGluR4,
mGluR5, mGluR7 or other therapeutic targets to be materially different
from any
future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by
such
statements. There can be no guarantee that allosteric modulators of
mGluR2,
mGluR4, mGluR5, mGluR7 will be approved for sale in any market or
by any
regulatory authority. Nor can there be any guarantee that allosteric
modulators
of mGluR2, mGluR4, mGluR5, mGluR7 or other therapeutic targets will
achieve any
particular levels of revenue (if any) in the future. In particular,
management's
expectations regarding allosteric modulators of mGluR2, mGluR4, mGluR5,
mGluR7
or other therapeutic targets could be affected by, among other
things,
unexpected actions by our partners, unexpected regulatory actions or
delays or
government regulation generally; unexpected clinical trial results,
including
unexpected new clinical data and unexpected additional analysis of
existing
clinical data; competition in general; government, industry and general
public
pricing pressures; the company's ability to obtain or maintain patent or
other
proprietary intellectual property protection. Should one or more of these
risks
or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove
incorrect,
actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, believed,
estimated
or expected. Addex Pharmaceuticals Ltd is providing the information in
this
press release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to
update
any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a
result of
new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be
required by
applicable laws.
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Source: Addex Pharmaceuticals via Thomson Reuters ONE
