Cassava Sciences Inc. said its experimental treatment PTI-125 significantly reduced inflammation of nervous tissue and degeneration of neurons in Alzheimer's disease patients during a mid-stage study.
Patients with the brain disorder were treated with PTI-125 for 28 days during the phase 2a trial, which was funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health. All 13 patients in the study responded to treatment.
Alzheimer's disease causes structural changes in a certain protein within the brain called Filamin A. PTI-125 attaches to this protein and restores its normal shape and function.
PTI-125 also decreased the number of biomarkers associated with the degeneration of neurons and cognitive decline.
The Austin, Texas-based pharmaceutical now plans to compare the drug with placebo during a phase 2b study in a larger number of patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. The trial will also be funded by the National Institutes of Health.
Cassava, which previously operated as Pain Therapeutics, develops drugs for nervous system disorders.
