EnVivo Pharmaceuticals Announces Significant Results from GSM Transgenic Mouse Model for Alzheimer's Disease
GSM modulator shown to reduce amyloid protein and plaque load, reverse behavioral deficits and reduce brain inflammation
HONOLULU, July 14 /PRNewswire/ -- EnVivo Pharmaceuticals today
announced at the Alzheimer's Association 2010 International
Conference on Alzheimer's Disease (ICAD) results from its
proprietary gamma-secretase modulator (GSM) pre-clinical study. In
a transgenic mouse model, EnVivo's EVP-0015962 reduced amyloid
plaque buildup which is believed to be a cause of Alzheimer's
disease, reversed behavioral deficits and reduced brain
inflammation associated with Alzheimer's disease.
EVP-0015962 is a proprietary small molecule compound that
belongs to a new generation of potential Alzheimer's drugs known as
gamma-secretase modulators. EVP-0015962 selectively inhibits the
production of the toxic aggregated amyloid AB42 peptide without
affecting the total amount of AB. As EVP-0015962 does not affect
other gamma secretase substrates required for normal function, such
as Notch, it is predicted to slow the progression of Alzheimer's
disease by reducing the disease-associated toxic AB42
species.
In its study, EnVivo was able to show that EVP-0015962
significantly reduced the production of total amyloid load as
measured by plaque count, surface area and aggregated AB in the
brains of transgenic mice after 12 months of daily oral
administration. In the same model, mice developed deficits in the
hippocampal memory task known as contextual fear conditioning.
Chronic dosing with EVP-0015962 reversed these deficits returning
the cognitive function to normal levels. In addition, EVP-0015962
reduced the amount of brain inflammation associated with amyloid
plaque buildup in these animals.
These findings demonstrate continued positive effects in
transgenic Alzheimer's animals with EVP-0015962. Given the multiple
positive results from this and previous studies, EnVivo is
confident it is close to concluding the pre-clinical development
process and hopes to begin clinical trials in 2011.
About EnVivo Pharmaceuticals
EnVivo Pharmaceuticals, located in Watertown, Mass., is a
biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering and developing
small molecule therapeutics for disorders of the central nervous
system, with a current focus on Alzheimer's disease, cognitive
disorders and schizophrenia. The company's lead product is an
alpha-7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist and is currently
in Phase IIb clinical trials for cognition disorders in Alzheimer's
disease and schizophrenia. The company's other programs include an
epigenetics program based on Histone Deacetylase inhibition (HDACi)
with EVP-0334 as the lead molecule which is in preparation for
Phase II studies, and several preclinical programs such as a Gamma
Secretase Modulator (for Alzheimer's disease) and a PDE10 inhibitor
program (for schizophrenia). For more information about EnVivo,
visit www.envivopharma.com.
Source: EnVivo Pharmaceuticals
CONTACT: Media Relations, Melissa Doyle, EnVivo
Pharmaceuticals,
+1-617-563-3374
Web Site: http://www.envivopharma.com/
Posted: July 2010
