Scientific publication suggests Herantis' CDNF improves long-term memory in mouse model of Alzheimers
Scientific publication suggests Herantis' CDNF improves long-term memory in mouse model of Alzheimers
Herantis Pharma Plc.
Company release 3 June 2015 at 4:00 pm
A recently published article in the scientific journal Behavioural Brain Research suggests that CDNF improves long-term memory in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. CDNF is a neuroprotective and neurotrophic protein patented and in development by Herantis Pharma for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. The peer-reviewed article concludes that this new finding of a positive effect on long-term memory consolidation has no observed safety issues.
"In this study, CDNF was shown to improve long-term memory in mice suffering from Alzheimer's disease-like brain pathology and also in healthy mice", explains Henri Huttunen, PhD, Herantis' Chief Scientific Officer. "These data suggest that the mechanism of action is more general rather than related to the amyloid plaques in Alzheimer's. We already know that CDNF protects cells from endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, which is linked to Alzheimer's disease. The general positive effect on long-term memory consolidation was still beyond our expectations."
"We are planning to file regulatory applications later this year for a clinical study of CDNF in Parkinson's disease", says Pekka Simula, CEO of Herantis. "We believe CDNF has huge potential addressing the unmet clinical needs of Parkinson's. This exciting new finding suggests that CDNF's potential may be even greater than expected. We will carefully assess possibilities of developing CDNF also in Alzheimer's disease."
The published article titled "Cerebral dopamine neurotrophic factor improves long-term memory in APP/PS1 transgenic mice modeling Alzheimer's disease as well as in wild-type mice" will appear in Behavioural Brain Research and is now available online ahead of printing under the DOI identifier 10.1016/j.bbr.2015.05.002. Professor Mart Saarma, a co-author of the article, is a co-founder and shareholder of Herantis Pharma.
Further information:
Herantis Pharma plc., Pekka Simula, CEO, telephone: +358 40 7300 445
Company web site: www.herantis.com
Certified Advisor: UB Capital Oy, telephone: +358 9 2538 0225
About Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's disease is the most common neurodegenerative disease and the cause in majority of cases of dementia. At least 20 million people worldwide are estimated to have Alzheimer's. The disease cannot be cured with any known therapies; its financial burden on societies is among the highest of all diseases, and expected to grow with the ageing population.
About CDNF
CDNF, or Cerebral Dopamine Neurotrophic Factor, is a neuroprotective and neurotrophic protein patented worldwide by Herantis. Following a preclinical development program, which has showed it as safe and efficacious in several preclinical models of Parkinson's disease, Herantis is preparing for a first-in-human clinical study of CDNF in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.
In the preclinical studies, CDNF has both protected and regenerated dopamine-generating cells suggesting a potential for disease modification of Parkinson's disease. Signals of efficacy are also seen in non-motor symptoms. This suggests that CDNF has the potential to address two clinical needs yet unmet by any known therapies.
About drug development
Drug development projects can usually be divided in two stages: The preclinical stage, and the clinical stage involving human subjects. The clinical stage can be further broken in three formal phases. Phase 1 clinical studies assess the safety of a drug candidate in human subjects. In Phase 2, the optimal dosing and possible efficacy in the treatment of a particular disease is studied. Phase 3 studies finally aim to establish a statistical proof of safety and efficacy of the drug candidate in typically hundreds or thousands of patients for market approval. Drug development can take 10-15 years from the first preclinical studies to market approval.
About Herantis Pharma Plc.
Herantis Pharma Plc. is a pharmaceutical company specialised in new drug research and development. The company focuses on diseases with an unmet clinical need. These diseases include for example dry eye syndrome, Parkinson's disease, and secondary lymphedema. We believe our drugs are the first or best in their class and have the potential to change treatment strategies of diseases. The shares of Herantis Pharma Plc. are listed on the First North Finland marketplace run by NASDAQ Helsinki stock exchange.