MELBOURNE,
Australia and SAN
FRANCISCO, July 1, 2021
/PRNewswire/ -- Alterity Therapeutics (ASX: ATH, NASDAQ: ATHE)
("Alterity" or "the Company") has today announced the granting of a
new composition of matter patent by the United States Patent and
Trademark Office (USPTO). The patent secures a broad monopoly
over a new class of iron chaperones, a technology capable of
redistributing excess iron in the central nervous system. The
structural backbone depicted in the patent provides the foundation
for small molecule drug candidates with potential to cross the
blood brain barrier and directly attack a source of
neuropathology.
Excess iron in the brain is implicated in the pathology of many
important neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and
Parkinson's diseases[1].
The patent, entitled "Compounds for and Methods of Treating
Diseases" (Application No. 16/818,641), was granted following
expedited review by the USPTO. It covers more than 150 novel
pharmaceutical compositions that are designed to redistribute the
labile iron implicated in many neurodegenerative conditions.
Alterity is on track to launch the Phase 2 trial of its
lead clinical candidate ATH434 by the end of the calendar
year. ATH434 is a small molecule drug being developed for
Multiple System Atrophy (MSA), a form of atypical parkinsonism
where iron plays a key role in pathogenesis by promoting
α-synuclein aggregation. The scientific investigation of
ATH434, along with the results from the Phase 2 study, will augment
the development and optimization of novel compounds expected to
emerge from the new patent.
The patent confers on Alterity 20 years of exclusivity,
providing a strong basis for drug development and commercialization
in major neurodegenerative diseases.
Alterity's CEO, Dr David Stamler
said: "This new patent is an important part of our corporate
strategy to expand our portfolio of potential disease modifying
treatments for neurodegenerative diseases affecting many
individuals. The newly covered compounds target excess brain iron
that is increased in these conditions, and we hope to identify a
new clinical candidate by the time we get results from our lead
clinical program."
In addition to the US, the company is pursuing patent protection
in other jurisdictions.
Authorisation & Additional information
This
announcement was authorized by David
Stamler, CEO of Alterity Therapeutics Limited.
About Alterity Therapeutics Limited and ATH434
Alterity's lead candidate, ATH434, is the first of a new generation of small molecules designed to inhibit
the aggregation of pathological proteins implicated in
neurodegeneration. ATH434 has been shown to
reduce abnormal accumulation of α-synuclein in animal models of disease by restoring
normal iron balance in the brain. In this way, it has excellent potential to treat Parkinson's
disease as well as various forms of atypical
Parkinsonism such as Multiple System Atrophy (MSA).
ATH434 has been granted Orphan designation for the treatment of MSA by the US FDA and the European
Commission.
For further information please visit the Company's web site at
www.alteritytherapeutics.com.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements"
within the meaning of section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and
section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Company has tried to identify such forward-looking statements by use
of such words as "expects," "intends," "hopes," "anticipates,"
"believes," "could," "may," "evidences" and "estimates," and other
similar expressions, but these words are not the exclusive means of
identifying such statements.
Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements
are described in the sections titled "Risk Factors" in the Company's filings with the SEC, including its most recent Annual Report
on Form 20-F as well as reports on Form 6-K, including, but not limited to the following: statements relating to the Company's
drug development program, including, but not limited to the
initiation, progress and outcomes of clinical trials of the
Company's drug development program, including, but not limited to, ATH434, and any other statements that are not historical
facts. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those risks and uncertainties relating to the
difficulties or delays in financing, development, testing, regulatory approval, production and marketing of the Company's drug
components, including, but not limited to, ATH434, uncertainties
relating to the impact of the novel coronavirus
(COVID-19) pandemic on the company's business, operations and employees,
the ability of the Company to procure additional future sources of financing,
unexpected adverse side effects or inadequate therapeutic efficacy
of the Company's drug compounds, including, but not
limited to, ATH434, that could slow or
prevent products coming to market, the
uncertainty of patent
protection for the Company's
intellectual property or trade secrets,
including, but not limited to, the intellectual property relating to ATH434.
Any forward-looking statement made by us in this press
release is based only on information currently available to us and
speaks only as of the date on which it is made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement,
whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or
otherwise.
[1] Hagemeier J,
Geurts J, Zivadinov R. Brain iron accumulation in aging and
neurodegenerative disorders. Expert Review of
Neurotherapeutics, 2012,12:12, 1467-1480, DOI: 10.1586/ern.12.128
|
Ayton S, Fazlollahi A, Bourgeat P, Raniga P, Ng A, Lim YY, Diouf I,
Farquharson S, Fripp J, Ames D, Doecke J, Desmond P, Ordidge R,
Masters CL, Rowe CC, Maruff P, Villemagne VL; Australian Imaging
Biomarkers and Lifestyle (AIBL) Research Group, Salvado O, Bush AI.
Cerebral quantitative susceptibility mapping predicts
amyloid-β-related cognitive decline. Brain. 2017 Aug
1;140(8):2112-2119. doi: 10.1093/brain/awx137. PMID:
28899019.
|
Zucca F, Segura-Aguilar J, Ferrari E, Muñoz P, Paris I, Sulzer D,
Sarna T, Casella L, Zecca L. Interactions of iron, dopamine and
neuromelanin pathways in brain aging and Parkinson's disease.
Progress in Neurobiology, Volume 155, 2017, Pages 96-119, ISSN
0301-0082,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pneurobio.2015.09.012
|
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/alterity-therapeutics-granted-a-new-us-patent-targeting-major-neurodegenerative-diseases-including-alzheimers-and-parkinsons-301324041.html
SOURCE Alterity Therapeutics Limited