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Development of E64d for Alzheimer's disease

Award Information
Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Branch: National Institutes of Health
Contract: 1R44AG032784-01
Agency Tracking Number: AG032784
Amount: $115,137.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: N/A
Solicitation Number: PHS2007-2
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2008
Award Year: 2008
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): N/A
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
AMERICAN LIFE SCIENCE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. 3030 Bunker Hill St.
SAN DIEGO, CA 92109
United States
DUNS: 170560960
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 () -
Business Contact
Phone: (858) 273-3900
Email: ghook@alspinc.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): There currently is no drug available that stops the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The abnormal accumulation of neurotoxic brain ss-amyloid peptides (A?) is thought to be a possible cause the disease. A? are p
roduced by proteolytic cleavage of a larger amyloid precursor protein by proteases, called ?- and ?-secretases. Inhibiting 2-secretase cleavage is an attractive approach to reducing A? accumulation and ?-secretase inhibitors are thought to potentially effe
ctive for slowing the progression of the disease. We have found a compound, E64d, which improves spatial memory deficit and reduces brain plaque, A? and CTF? in a transgenic AD mouse when intracerebroventricularly (icv) administered. Moreover, E64d also re
duces brain A? in the regulated secretory pathway in the guinea pig model of human A? production. The reduction in CTF? and A? in the regulated secretory pathway suggests that E64d may act by inhibiting ?-secretase activity in that pathway. Previously, oth
ers found that oral E64d administration safe to use in clinical trials. Thus, E64d is both efficacious in AD animal models and safe to use in humans and therefore has potential as an AD therapeutic. E64d is an ester prodrug of its biologically active acid
form, E64c, which is a specific inhibitor of cysteine proteases. E64d is rapidly hydrolyzed to E64c in vivo. However, icv E64d administration is not a therapeutically acceptable route and oral E64d administration results in low brain doses, which is due to
hepatic E64c uptake prior to reaching the brain. Therapeutically acceptable and efficacious routes of E64d administration need to be developed in order to advance E64d as an AD therapeutic. This grant will explore various routes of E64d administration and
determine their efficacy and brain dose responses in AD animal models. If a suitable route is found, this work will allow the clinical development of a very promising AD therapeutic to proceed. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The relevance of this project to th
e public health is the development of new and effective Alzheimer's disease drug. Currently, there is no effective means of stopping the progress of this devastating disease and there is an urgent need for new drugs that do so. This project may result in a
new Alzheimer's disease treatment that may halt or, possibly, reverse the progression of the disease.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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