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Favourable results enable longer patient treatment
HALLE/SAALE, Germany, 04 April 2016 – Probiodrug AG (Euronext Amsterdam: PBD), a biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutic solutions to treat Alzheimer’s disease (AD), today announced that it has concluded the assessment of its chronic toxicology studies with its lead candidate PQ912, currently under development for AD in a clinical phase 2 study (SAPHIR).
Results show that the toxicology profile of PQ912 in the 6-month rat and 9-month dog studies was absolutely comparable to the results of the previously available 3-month toxicology studies conducted in the same species. No new findings were observed and the minimal to slight non-adverse or questionable changes seen in both the 1-month – and the 3 month-studies were not aggravated after prolonged treatment, thus providing an excellent basis for a sound preclinical safety assessment. In conclusion, the comfortable safety margin is retained.
Based on these favourable outcomes, Probiodrug is exploring opportunities for longer-term clinical studies in AD, which may be run either as separate trials or as an extension of the SAPHIR trial.
“We are very pleased with the conclusions from these peer-reviewed results of the long term toxicology studies as we view them as the regulatory prerequisite for longer treatment clinical studies in AD patients,” said Inge Lues, Chief Development Officer of the company.
PQ912, Probiodrug’s lead product candidate, is a highly specific and potent inhibitor of Glutaminyl Cyclase, which has shown therapeutic benefit in Alzheimer’s animal models.
In 2015, Probiodrug initiated a Phase 2a study, the “SAPHIR” study, of its lead product candidate PQ912. In a preceding Phase 1 study with healthy young and elderly volunteers, PQ912 was shown to be safe and well tolerated and revealed high QC-inhibition.
PQ912 is the first QC-inhibitor being tested in AD patients. The Phase 2a study is a randomized, double-blind multi-center study which plans to enrol a total of 110 patients with early stage Alzheimer’s disease. The study is led by internationally renowned experts in AD in six European countries at about 18 sites, with the Alzheimer Center, VU Medical Center (VUmc), Amsterdam being the lead center. The primary endpoint of the trial is the safety and tolerability of PQ912 compared with placebo over a three-month treatment period. Additionally, a set of exploratory read-outs comprising cognitive tests, functional assessments by EEG and functional MRI and new molecular biomarkers in CSF will be used to evaluate the compound’s effect on the pathology of the disease. Patient enrolment started in March 2015.
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For more information, please contact:
Probiodrug
Dr Konrad Glund, CEO
Email: contact@probiodrug.de
Hume Brophy
Supriya Mathur, Eva Haas, Alexia Faure
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7862 6475
Email: probiodrug@humebrophy.com
The Trout Group
Tricia Truehart
Tel: +1 (646) 378-2953
Email: ttruehart@troutgroup.com
Notes to Editors:
About Probiodrug AG
Headquartered in Halle, Germany, Probiodrug AG (Euronext Amsterdam: PBD) is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of new therapeutic products for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.
Founded in 1997, the company successfully developed a novel therapeutic concept for diabetes – the DP4 inhibitors – which provided the basis for a novel class of antidiabetics – the gliptins. Its core capabilities are based on its long-standing expertise in the elucidation of the structure and function of enzymes involved in the modification of proteins and peptides, which play a central role in pathological conditions.
Today Probiodrug’s aim is to become a leading company in the development of Alzheimer’s disease treatments and to thereby provide a better life for Alzheimer’s disease patients. It has identified a new therapeutic concept linked to disease initiation and progression. The development approaches are targeting pyroglutamate-Abeta (pGlu-Abeta) as a therapeutic strategy to fight Alzheimer’s disease. The Company has medical use and composition of matter patents related to the inhibition of Glutaminyl Cyclase (QC) and anti-pGlu-Abeta- specific monoclonal antibodies, providing it, in the Company’s view, with a leading position in this field of research.
About Alzheimer’s disease
Alzheimer’s disease is a neurological disorder, which is the most common form of dementia, and ultimately leads to death. Because Alzheimer’s disease cannot be cured and is degenerative, the affected patients must increasingly rely on others for assistance. Today, over 46 million people worldwide currently live with the condition and this number is expected to increase to 132 million by 2050. Alzheimer’s also has an estimated, global societal cost of US$ 818 billion (World Alzheimer Report 2015).
Forward Looking Statements
Information set forth in this press release contains forward-looking statements, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements contained herein represent the judgment of Probiodrug AG as of the date of this press release. Such forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, and which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in these forward-looking statements. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any such statements to reflect any change in our expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.