BROOMFIELD, Colo., May 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Accera Inc. is presenting topline data today from its Phase IIb study of its lead compound AC-1202 in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) at the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) 59th Annual Meeting in Boston. Judged by the AAN to be in the top five percent of the program, the data will also be featured in the Scientific Highlights Plenary Session.
The randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled Phase IIb trial evaluated 152 subjects that had previously been diagnosed with mild to moderate AD. Consistent with the findings of Accera’s Phase IIa study, subjects who did not have the ApoE4 genotype-a known genetic risk factor that occurs in half of all AD patients-responded particularly well to treatment, as reflected in statistically significant improvement in AD Assessment Scale- Cognitive (ADAS-Cog) scores.
Subjects underwent pharmacogenomic analysis for a variety of genetic markers and were evaluated through a battery of neuropsychometric tests at Day 0, 45, and 90. Compared to the placebo group, the ADAS-Cog scores of the AC- 1202-treated ApoE4(-) population improved 3.5 points in twelve weeks (p=0.01), and statistically significant improvement was seen in just 45 days.
Interestingly, ApoE4(-) subjects who also exhibited a genetic variation that affects glucose regulation showed a 5 point improvement in ADAS-Cog scores compared to placebo, providing further insight into the disease. “The profound effect we see in the population without the ApoE4 risk factor supports the findings of an earlier study linking efficacy to a certain pharmacogenomic profile,” said Dr. Lauren Costantini, Accera’s vice president of clinical development. “It also provides further evidence of the link between Alzheimer’s disease and glucose metabolism.”
Regardless of genotype, subjects treated with AC-1202 showed a trend toward improvement (p=.072), suggesting the compound’s disease modifying potential. Taken in addition to an existing AD treatment, AC-1202 was well tolerated, making it a promising co-therapeutic candidate for the chronic treatment of the disease.
Dr. Lauren Costantini is presenting the abstract, “Clinical Efficacy of AC-1202 in Mild to Moderate Alzheimer’s Disease” at the Late Breaking Science session today at 3:45 p.m. EDT. The plenary session will be held at 5:15 p.m. EDT on Friday, May 4.
The trial was conducted at 25 centers across the United States, and all subjects were given the opportunity to participate in a six-month open-label extension upon completion of the three-month blinded study. The results of the open-label extension will be presented at the Alzheimer’s Association’s International Prevention Conference in early June.
About AC-1202
Brain imaging techniques performed on AD patients reveal a dramatically decreased uptake of glucose, the brain’s preferred source of energy. AC-1202 is an orally available, liquid compound that is efficiently converted by the liver into ketone bodies, an alternative energy source that the brain can metabolize even when it cannot process glucose. Thus preserving the glucose- deprived brain cells, AC-1202 has disease modifying potential in AD and a number other neurodegenerative diseases characterized by neuronal metabolism. The potentially neuroprotective mechanism of this first-in-class compound is also being evaluated in age-associated memory impairment, Parkinson’s disease, and canine cognitive dysfunction.
About Accera, Inc.
Based in Broomfield, CO, Accera, Inc. is a privately held biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel drugs for neurodegenerative diseases. The company’s lead candidate, AC-1202, is a first- in-class molecule currently in Phase II clinical trials for Alzheimer’s disease and age-associated memory impairment. A key element of Accera’s strategy is to develop AC-1202 and other small molecule compounds in its pipeline with corporate partners for a range of memory and cognition disorders associated with neurological conditions and aging. www.accerapharma.com
For information contact: Meghan Feeks Richard Lewis Communications, Inc. 212-827-0020 mfeeks@rlcinc.com
Accera Inc.
CONTACT: Meghan Feeks of Richard Lewis Communications, Inc., for AcceraInc. +1-212-827-0020, or mfeeks@rlcinc.com
Web site: http://www.accerapharma.com/
