Alzamend Neuro Submits IND Application for a Phase IIA Clinical Trial in Major Depressive Disorder Patients of its Next‑Generation Lithium Therapeutic Drug Candidate AL001
23 10월 2023 - 9:00PM
Business Wire
- Safety aspects of AL001 development may qualify for a
505(b)(2) NDA pathway for FDA approval
- Alzamend recently completed a Phase IIA Study of AL001 in
Alzheimer’s patients and healthy subjects showing a benign safety/
tolerability profile while characterizing dosing levels unlikely to
require therapeutic drug monitoring
Alzamend Neuro, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALZN) (“Alzamend”), a
clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing
novel products for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease
(“Alzheimer’s”), bipolar disorder (“BD”), major
depressive disorder (“MDD”) and post-traumatic stress
disorder (“PTSD”), today announced that it has submitted an
investigational new drug (“IND”) application to the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) for the initiation of
study AL001-MDD01, a Phase IIA plasma/brain pharmacokinetics
clinical study of AL001 for adjunctive treatment of patients with
MDD.
Although lithium does not have an FDA approved indication for
augmentation of an antidepressant in MDD, it has been prescribed
off-label for this purpose for decades. While a wide variety of
medications have been used historically in this capacity, lithium
is one of the few agents that has demonstrated efficacy in multiple
randomized controlled trials. Although the ideal role for lithium
augmentation has yet to be established, there is evidence to
support the clinical practice of adding lithium to conventional
antidepressants in pursuit of MDD remission. Lithium augmentation
has been cited as a strategy for depressed patients not responding
to an antidepressant, lithium prophylaxis for recurrent unipolar
depression as an alternative to prophylaxis with an antidepressant,
and for lithium’s anti-suicidal properties, where appropriate.
Lithium was the first mood stabilizer approved by the FDA and is
still a first-line treatment option (considered the “gold
standard”) for BD but is underutilized perhaps because of the need
for therapeutic drug monitoring (“TDM”). Lithium was the
first drug that required TDM by regulatory authorities in product
labelling because the effective and safe range of therapeutic drug
blood concentrations is narrow and well-defined for treatment of BD
when using lithium salts. Excursions above this range can be toxic,
and below can impair effectiveness.
AL001 is a novel lithium-delivery system that has the potential
to provide benefits of marketed lithium salts while mitigating or
avoiding currently experienced toxicities associated with lithium.
Results from Alzamend’s recently completed Phase IIA
multiple-ascending dose study of AL001 in Alzheimer’s patients and
healthy subjects identified a maximum tolerated dose (“MTD”)
that was vetted by an independent safety review committee. This
MTD, which is designed to distribute more lithium to the brain but
at lower systemic exposure, resulting in an improved safety profile
compared to currently marketed lithium salts, was assessed to be
unlikely to require TDM.
After receipt of a “study may proceed” communication from the
FDA, Alzamend plans to initiate a Phase IIA study to characterize
AL001 improvements of lithium levels in the brain compared to a
marketed lithium salt in MDD patients. Alzamend anticipates that
this program may, based on safety, qualify for a 505(b)(2) NDA
pathway to FDA approval, which is available to new formulations of
an approved drug.
“This IND submission represents the next key milestone for
Alzamend as we further advance our proprietary pipeline,” said
Stephan Jackman, Chief Executive Officer of Alzamend. “Being able
to develop a next-generation lithium product (AL001) that would not
routinely require TDM could positively impact the 21 million
Americans afflicted with MDD. We look forward to providing more
details regarding the study’s timeline and market opportunity in
the near future.”
About Major Depressive Disorder
MDD, also known simply as depression, is a mental disorder
characterized by at least two weeks of pervasive low mood, low
self-esteem, and loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable
activities. Those affected may also occasionally have delusions or
hallucinations. Introduced by a group of U.S. clinicians in the
mid-1970s, the term was adopted by the American Psychiatric
Association for this symptom cluster under mood disorders in the
1980 version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders (DSM-III) and has become widely used since. The diagnosis
of MDD is based on the person’s reported experiences and a mental
status examination. There is no laboratory test for the disorder,
but testing may be done to rule out physical conditions that can
cause similar symptoms. The most common time of onset is in a
person’s 20s, with females affected about twice as often as males.
The course of the disorder varies widely, from one episode lasting
months, to a lifelong disorder with recurrent major depressive
episodes. MDD is believed to be caused by a combination of genetic,
environmental, and psychological factors, with about 40% of the
risk being genetic. Risk factors include a family history of the
condition, major life changes, certain medications, chronic health
problems, and substance use. It can negatively affect a person’s
personal life, work life, or education as well as sleeping, eating
habits, and general health. According to the World Health
Organization, approximately 280 million people (3.8% of the world’s
population) in the world suffer from MDD.
About Alzamend Neuro
Alzamend Neuro is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company
focused on developing novel products for the treatment of
Alzheimer’s, BD, MDD and PTSD. Our mission is to rapidly develop
and market safe and effective treatments. Our current pipeline
consists of two novel therapeutic drug candidates, AL001 - a
patented ionic cocrystal technology delivering lithium via a
therapeutic combination of lithium, salicylate and L-proline, and
ALZN002 - a patented method using a mutant-peptide sensitized cell
as a cell-based therapeutic vaccine that seeks to restore the
ability of a patient’s immunological system to combat Alzheimer’s.
Both of our product candidates are licensed from the University of
South Florida Research Foundation, Inc. pursuant to royalty-bearing
exclusive worldwide licenses.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within
the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended. These forward-looking statements generally include
statements that are predictive in nature and depend upon or refer
to future events or conditions, and include words such as
“believes,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “projects,” “estimates,”
“expects,” “intends,” “strategy,” “future,” “opportunity,” “may,”
“will,” “should,” “could,” “potential,” or similar expressions.
Statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking
statements. Forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs
and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties.
Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made,
and Alzamend undertakes no obligation to update any of them
publicly in light of new information or future events. Actual
results could differ materially from those contained in any
forward-looking statement as a result of various factors. More
information, including potential risk factors, that could affect
Alzamend’s business and financial results are included in
Alzamend’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission. All filings are available at www.sec.gov and on
Alzamend’s website at www.Alzamend.com.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231023303175/en/
Email: Info@Alzamend.com or call: 1-844-722-6333
Alzamend Neuro (NASDAQ:ALZN)
과거 데이터 주식 차트
부터 1월(1) 2025 으로 2월(2) 2025
Alzamend Neuro (NASDAQ:ALZN)
과거 데이터 주식 차트
부터 2월(2) 2024 으로 2월(2) 2025