February 10, 2010: QR Pharma, Inc. (QR), a developer of novel drugs to treat Alzheimer's disease (AD), announced that it began a clinical trial of its lead compound, Posiphen®, in early stage AD patients.Posiphen®, a small orally active compound, has been shown in cell cultures of normal mice, AD transgenic mice and Down Syndrome (DS) mice to reduce the synthesis of amyloid-b precursor protein (APP) which is cleaved into a number of toxic peptides. These peptides include amyloid-b42 (Ab42), that attacks multiple pathways of neuronal cell life, inducing dysfunction, neuronal cell death and neuroinflammation, and leading to cognitive impairment and neurodegeneration.
The trial will measure in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood plasma of amnestic mild cognitively impaired (MCI) patients the biochemical changes that are associated with AD and correlate them with the pharmacokinetics of the drug and its metabolites.
Recent reports suggest high endogenous variability of Aß peptides between subjects. Therefore, the company decided to use subjects as their own controls. Amnestic MCI patients will receive Posiphen® at 240 mg/ day for 10 days (4x60 mg was found in a multiple dose safety study to be well tolerated in elderly healthy volunteers). Serial CSF samples will be collected via indwelling lumbar catheter for 12 hours one day before the start of dosing and after the last dose. Plasma samples will be taken at the same sampling times. CSF and plasma/serum samples will be analyzed for Posiphen®, metabolites and soluble a and ßAPP, Aß 40/42 and other AD associated markers... QR Pharma's Press Release -
