Probiodrug Presents Development Overview of PQ912, Probiodrug’s QC-Inhibitor for Alzheimer’s Disease

HALLE/SAALE, Germany, July 10, 2014 – Probiodrug AG (Probiodrug) announced that Prof. Hans-Ulrich Demuth, co-founder and consultant to the company, will give a talk detailing clinical development of PQ912 at the upcoming Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark. The presentation, titled: “Toxic pGlu-Abeta is enhanced and Glutaminyl Cyclase (QC) up-regulated early in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) – Inhibitors of QC Blocking pGlu-Abeta Formation are in Clinical Development,” summarizes target validation and pharmacological studies supporting the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) by lowering modified and toxic pyroglutamated (pGlu) Abeta through the inhibition of glutaminyl cyclase (QC). The presentation provides Phase 1 clinical results and development status of PQ912, the company’s lead QC-inhibitor. Dr. Demuth’s presentation takes place Sunday, July 13 from 16:00 to 17:30 in the “Therapeutics: Clinical” session.

Inge Lues, Ph.D., chief development officer of Probiodrug, commented: “We have completed a Phase 1 clinical trial of PQ912, our innovative QC inhibitor. Due to the compound’s excellent safety and tolerability profile, combined with its high target occupancy observed in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of young and elderly healthy volunteers, we are now moving full speed ahead in preparing a Phase 2a trial of PQ912 in early AD patients.”

Further preclinical and clinical highlights:

• QC inhibition shows promising proof-of-concept in AD-like animal models.
• QC expression is strongly correlated with the appearance and increase of pGlu-modified Abeta in the brains of AD patients.
• pGlu-modified Abeta primes formation of mixed Abeta oligomers. These oligomers are much more neuro-toxic than full-length Abeta and they act in a strictly tau-dependent manner.

About Probiodrug AG

Probiodrug is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery and development of novel therapeutic solutions to treat people with Alzheimer’s disease. Efforts are focused on lowering modified and toxic pyroglutamated (pGlu) Abeta in the brains of Alzheimer patients through (i) the inhibition of glutaminyl cyclase (QC) and (ii) by immunotherapy with a modification-specific monoclonal antibody. The Company has medical use and composition of matter patents related to the inhibition of glutaminyl cyclase, providing it with a leading position in this field of research in the Company’s view. Probiodrug is backed by institutions such as BB Biotech, Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners, Goodvent/IBG, HBM, TVM Capital, Life Sciences Partners, Biogen Idec New Ventures, CFH Group, funds managed by Wellington Management and private investors.
Probiodrug’s core capabilities are based on its long-standing expertise in the elucidation of the structure and function of enzymes which play a central role in the maturation of hormones. Probiodrug was founded in 1997 by Prof. Dr. Hans-Ulrich Demuth and Dr. Konrad Glund. For more information, please visit www.probiodrug.de.

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Company Contact:
Dr. Konrad Glund, CEO
Tel: +49 (345) 555-9900
Email: konrad.glund@probiodrug.de