Probiodrug to present at US and Japanese Conferences
Probiodrug to attend and present at European Conferences in November 2015
Presentation at the Society for Neuroscience (SfN) Annual Meeting
HALLE/SAALE, Germany, 19 October 2015 – Probiodrug AG (Euronext Amsterdam: PBD), a biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutic solutions to treat Alzheimer’s disease (AD), presented data on its specific pGlu3-Abeta monoclonal antibody at Neuroscience 2015, the 45th annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience (SfN) in Chicago, USA.
The data presented result from a collaboration between Probiodrug and the research team led by Associate Professor Cynthia Lemere from the Center for Neurologic Diseases at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
The oral presentation entitled “Preclinical in vivo Effects of an anti-PyroGlu-3 Abeta Antibody” was presented on Saturday, 17 October 2015 at 1.45 pm CDT in S403.
The abstract was selected for presentation in the Nanosymposium 11, Alzheimer’s Disease: Experimental Therapeutics.
Pyroglutamate-3 Abeta (pGlu-3 Abeta), a post-translational modified Abeta, is a highly toxic Abeta variant which is abundant in brains of patients with AD. The therapeutic study investigated the role of the antibody’s IgG isotype on efficacy and safety in 16-month-old APP/PS1 dE9 mice, following passive immunization for four months. The IgG2a version showed a robust significant reduction in cerebral pGlu3-Abeta, general Abeta as well as Abeta plaque load, which was paralleled by a significant improvement in learning and memory in water T-maze tests. These effects were significantly more pronounced compared to those of an IgG1 isotype of the antibody.
This is the first report that an anti-pGlu-3-Abeta approach not only reduces Abeta/plaques but also significantly improves cognitive deficits in aged Alzheimer’s mice. Moreover no evidence was found for increased microhemorrhages after treatment.
Dr Inge Lues, Chief Development Officer at Probiodrug, commented: “The results show that in preclinical studies, immunotherapy with the IgG 2a isoform of the pGlu3-Abeta antibody is effective in lowering plaque burden in the absence of microhemorrhage, while improving cognitive performance. These results were important for the selection of the IgG-subtype of PBD-C06, our development candidate that is now in preclinical development.”
Title: Passive vaccination targeting pyroglutamate-3 Aβ reduces Aβ plaque burden without microhemorrhage and partially rescues cognitive deficits in aged APP/PS1dE9 mice
Authors: H. Crehan, M. Kleinschmidt, E. Fitzpatrick, S. Chowudhury, K. Le, J. L. Frost, B. O’Nuallain, B. J. Caldarone, H.-U. Demuth, J.-U. Rahfled, I. Lues, S. Schilling, C. A. Lemere
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For more information, please contact:
Probiodrug
Dr Konrad Glund, CEO
Email: contact@probiodrug.de
Hume Brophy
Mary Clark, Supriya Mathur, Alexia Faure
Tel: +44 (0) 203 440 5657
Email: probiodrug@humebrophy.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. www.probiodrug.de
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, 44 million people worldwide currently live with the condition and this number is expected to almost double by 2030 and to more than triple by 2050 to over 132 million. Alzheimer’s also has an estimated, global societal cost of over $600 billion (World Alzheimer Report 2014).
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.