Comprehensive Analysis in Frontiers in Neuroscience Highlights Acumen Pharmaceuticals’ New Approach to Treating Alzheimer's Disease
April 27 2022 - 8:00AM
Acumen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ABOS), a clinical stage
biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel
targeted therapeutics for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), today announced
that Frontiers in Neuroscience published a summary of preclinical
evidence supporting ACU193, a monoclonal antibody that selectively
targets toxic soluble Aβ oligomers (AβOs) for the potential
treatment of early Alzheimer’s disease. The article is titled
“ACU193: An immunotherapeutic poised to test the amyloid β oligomer
hypothesis of Alzheimer’s disease” and can be accessed here.
Studies suggest that AβO-mediated neuronal toxicity is directly
responsible for Alzheimer’s-associated memory and cognitive
problems. AβOs have been found to interact within synapses of brain
cells called neurons, which leads to altered neuronal function, and
may initiate and perpetuate the process of neurodegeneration,
ultimately leading to cell death.
“We are increasingly learning more about the specific roles
certain entities in the amyloid cascade, like AβOs, play in
Alzheimer’s disease pathology,” said Eric Siemers, M.D., Chief
Medical Officer at Acumen Pharmaceuticals and co-author of the
publication. “We believe targeting AβOs remains a promising
approach because evidence suggests they are the most toxic form of
Aβ and may be responsible for the memory impairment and cognitive
decline in Alzheimer’s patients. We expect our ongoing Phase I
clinical trial of ACU193 to provide further explanatory information
and proof of mechanism data that will potentially pave the way
towards testing of this hypothesis in larger studies. We look
forward to sharing the results from our Phase I clinical trial once
available.”
Acumen believes ACU193 has many essential properties needed for
a successful therapeutic and selectively binds to AβOs. Preclinical
data highlights in the publication on ACU193 include:
- ACU193 selectively binds AβOs with 650-fold selectivity
compared to Aβ monomers with limited to no binding to fibrillar Aβ
in vitro
- ACU193 prevents AβO-induced disruption of long-term
potentiation (LTP), a process of strengthening synapses that is
important for learning and memory
- ACU193 can bind to a wide range of AβOs with varying molecular
weights
- The parent of ACU193, called ACU3B3, prevents AβO-induced
disruption of calcium homeostasis, an early sign of cellular
dysfunction
- ACU3B3 significantly improved behavioral deficits across
various assessments when administered to animal models at an age
when AβO levels were measurable but prior to plaque deposition
Current therapeutics targeting amyloid plaque cause amyloid
related imaging abnormalities (ARIA), including cerebral edema
(ARIA-E) or microhemorrhage (ARIA-H), which may complicate the
utility of such medicines. Current preclinical data suggest that
ACU193 is not expected to elicit ARIA side effects due to its high
selectivity for AβOs and limited binding to plaque.
About Acumen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.Acumen,
headquartered in Charlottesville, VA, with clinical operations
based in Carmel, IN, is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company
developing a novel disease-modifying approach to treat Alzheimer’s
disease. Acumen’s scientific founders pioneered research on AβOs,
which a growing body of evidence indicates are primary triggers of
Alzheimer’s disease pathology. Acumen is currently focused on
advancing its investigational immunotherapy drug, ACU193, a
humanized monoclonal antibody that selectively targets toxic AβOs
in INTERCEPT-AD, a Phase I clinical trial involving early
Alzheimer’s disease patients. For more information, visit
www.acumenpharm.com.
Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release
contains forward‐looking statements within the meaning of The
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statement
describing Acumen’s goals, expectations, financial or other
projections, intentions or beliefs is a forward‐looking statement
and should be considered an at‐risk statement. Words such as
“believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “could,” “would,” “seeks,”
“aims,” “plans,” “potential,” “will” and similar expressions are
intended to identify forward‐looking statements, although not all
forward‐looking statements contain these identifying words.
Forward‐looking statements include statements concerning Acumen’s
business and the therapeutic potential of Acumen’s product
candidate, ACU193, including its potential for improved safety and
efficacy as compared to other monoclonal antibodies in development,
as well as the expectations concerning the INTERCEPT‐AD trial and
expectations with respect to the role of AβOs in the potential
treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. These statements are based upon
the current beliefs and expectations of Acumen management, and are
subject to certain factors, risks and uncertainties, particularly
those inherent in the process of discovering, developing and
commercializing safe and effective human therapeutics. Such risks
may be amplified by the impacts of the COVID‐19 pandemic. These and
other risks concerning Acumen’s programs are described in
additional detail in Acumen’s filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including in Acumen’s Annual Report on
Form 10‐K for the year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the SEC
on March 28, 2021, which is available on the SEC’s website at
www.sec.gov. Copies of these and other documents are available from
Acumen. Additional information will be made available in other
filings that Acumen makes from time to time with the SEC. These
forward‐looking statements speak only as of the date hereof, and
Acumen expressly disclaims any obligation to update or revise any
forward‐looking statement, except as otherwise required by law,
whether, as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise.
Contacts:
Media:AcumenPR@westwicke.com
Investors:investors@acumenpharm.com
Acumen Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ABOS)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jun 2024 to Jul 2024
Acumen Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ABOS)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jul 2023 to Jul 2024