Alector Announces First Alzheimer’s Disease Patient Dosed in Phase 1b Study of AL002
May 06 2019 - 6:30AM
- Phase 1b study of AL002 enrolling Alzheimer’s
disease patients will assess safety and pharmacodynamics, and will
monitor target specific biomarkers
Alector, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALEC), a clinical-stage biotechnology
company pioneering immuno-neurology, a novel therapeutic approach
for the treatment of neurodegeneration, today announced dosing of
the first Alzheimer’s disease patient in the Phase 1b portion of
the INVOKE clinical study of AL002. AL002 is a monoclonal antibody
that enhances the activity of TREM2 and is being developed by
Alector for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease in collaboration
with its partner AbbVie.
“We are excited that based on the safety profile in healthy
volunteers observed to date, we can now advance to the Phase 1b
portion of the study, evaluating AL002 in Alzheimer’s disease
patients,” said Robert Paul, M.D., Ph.D., chief medical
officer.
The Phase 1b portion of the INVOKE clinical study will assess
the safety of multiple doses and measure target-specific biomarker
changes related to AL002 in plasma and in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
in Alzheimer’s disease patients.
“Based on strong genetic links between TREM2 and Alzheimer’s
disease, we designed and developed AL002 to enhance TREM2 signaling
and harness the immune system in the brain which we believe will
address the multiple pathologies in Alzheimer’s disease,” said
Arnon Rosenthal, Ph.D., chief executive officer. “Alzheimer’s
disease is a significant unmet medical need with no approved
disease modifying drugs. We are pioneering immuno-neurology and
working closely with our partner AbbVie to bring AL002 to these
patients in need as quickly as possible.”
About AL002AL002 is a monoclonal antibody that
targets a triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2)
with the strongest genetic links after APOE4 to Alzheimer’s disease
and other neurodegenerative disorders. TREM2 is a transmembrane
receptor protein expressed on a subset of innate immune cells and
selectively on microglia, which constitute the brain’s immune
system. TREM2 is thought to promote improved cell migration to the
site of injury, improved cell survival, increased phagocytosis, and
increased cell proliferation. Loss of TREM2 function leads to
Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia and research
suggests that boosting TREM2 levels in the brain may prevent or
reduce the severity of neurodegenerative disorders.
About Alzheimer’s DiseaseAlzheimer’s disease is
a degenerative brain disease and the most common form of dementia.
It is an irreversible, progressive brain disorder that slowly
destroys memory and thinking skills, and eventually the ability of
patients to care for themselves. In most people with Alzheimer’s
symptoms first appear in their mid-60s. The Alzheimer’s Association
estimates that as of 2018 there are 5.7 million Americans suffering
from Alzheimer’s disease and project that number will rise to
nearly 14 million by 2050.
About Collaboration with AbbVieIn October 2017,
Alector entered into a global strategic collaboration with AbbVie
(NYSE: ABBV) a leader in neuroscience drug development, to
co-develop and commercialize therapeutics to treat Alzheimer’s and
other neurodegenerative diseases.
Under the terms of the agreement, Alector granted AbbVie an
exclusive option to global development and commercialization for
two programs, including TREM2. For each program, Alector is
responsible for the design and execution of Phase 1 and Phase 2
studies, leveraging the Company’s in-house expertise in running
clinical trials in Alzheimer’s disease. Following its exercise of
an option for a program, AbbVie will be responsible for certain
development activities and global commercialization. The terms of
the agreement included an initial upfront payment of $205M in cash
and $20M in equity and if AbbVie exercises its option for either
program (or both programs), Alector is eligible for additional
option exercise and milestone payments totaling up to $986M.
Following AbbVie’s exercise of its option, Alector and AbbVie will
share the development costs and will split global profits equally
after marketing approval.
About AlectorAlector is a clinical stage
biotechnology company pioneering immuno-neurology, a novel
therapeutic approach for the treatment of neurodegenerative
diseases. Immuno-neurology targets immune dysfunction as a root
cause of multiple pathologies that are drivers of degenerative
brain disorders. Alector is developing a broad portfolio of
programs designed to functionally repair genetic mutations that
cause dysfunction of the brain’s immune system and enable the
rejuvenated immune cells to counteract emerging brain pathologies.
The Company’s product candidates are supported by biomarkers and
target genetically defined patient populations in frontotemporal
dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Alector is headquartered in South
San Francisco, California. For additional information, please visit
www.alector.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking
StatementsThis press release contains “forward-looking”
statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are based on
our beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available
to us on the date of this press release. Forward-looking statements
may involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other
factors that may cause our actual results, performance or
achievements to be materially different from those expressed or
implied by the forward-looking statements. These statements include
but are not limited to statements regarding the Company’s plans for
and anticipated benefits and mechanism of the Company’s product
candidates, the timing and objectives of the clinical studies and
anticipated regulatory and development milestones. Except as
required by law, we assume no obligation to update these
forward-looking statements publicly, or to update the reasons
actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in
the forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes
available in the future. Important factors that could cause our
actual results to differ materially are detailed from time to time
in the reports Alector files with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, including in our annual report on Form 10-K that is
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Copies
of reports filed with the SEC are posted on Alector’s website and
are available from Alector without charge.
Source: Alector, Inc.
Contacts
Media:1ABDan Budwick,
973-271-6085dan@1abmedia.comorInvestors:Alector,
Inc.ir@alector.com
AbbVie (NYSE:ABBV)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jun 2024 to Jul 2024
AbbVie (NYSE:ABBV)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jul 2023 to Jul 2024