Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation Funds AgeneBio To Advance Pharmacological Neural Stabilizer Technology

Main Category: Alzheimer's / Dementia
Also Included In: Psychology / Psychiatry;  Neurology / Neuroscience
Article Date: 27 Aug 2010 - 2:00 PDT

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The Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) announced that it has awarded a grant of $240,000 to AgeneBio Inc. to develop a new class of small-molecules that have promise in treating amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), a neurological condition that often progresses to Alzheimer's disease and affects more than 3 million aging Americans. Approximately fifteen percent of aMCI patients progress to an Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosis every year.

In aMCI, new research has shown that excess neural activity is associated with greater memory loss and predicts progression to AD. AgeneBio is developing new "neural stabilizer" therapies that are designed to selectively normalize the excess neural activity, improve memory and slow the progression to AD.

AgeneBio's research platform is based on the work of Michela Gallagher, PhD, the scientific founder of AgeneBio. Dr. Gallagher is the Krieger-Eisenhower Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at John Hopkins University and the Director of the Neurogenetics and Behavior Center.

"We are honored to be selected by the ADDF for funding of our novel approach to the treatment of aMCI and Alzheimer's disease," said Dr. Gallagher. "AgeneBio has demonstrated in pre-clinical studies that normalizing excess brain activity has a great benefit on memory. We have identified a novel drug target and a new class of compounds for further development."

"This research has the potential to lead to the development of new therapies for symptom relief as well as disease-modification for aMCI and Alzheimer's disease" said J. David Leander, AgeneBio's Chief Scientific Advisor. "The funding from the ADDF will allow AgeneBio to expand and accelerate the medicinal chemistry effort."

"AgeneBio's innovative approach has the potential to significantly impact the disease process at a very early stage, slowing the progression of Alzheimer's disease," said Dr. Howard Fillit, the ADDF's Executive Director. "We enthusiastically support the important work at AgeneBio."

Source: Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation

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