- Research
indicates that anti-inflammatory medications have the power to prevent the
onset and control the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease
- The
link between inflammatory processes and Alzheimer’s has long been
established; companies like INmune Bio are working to further the research
and develop safe and effective drugs based on disrupting this mechanism
- INmune
Bio has received a $1 million grant from the Alzheimer’s Association to
bring its lead drug candidate, XPro1595, to the clinical testing stage
Could tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) inhibition be the
next big thing in the world of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) treatment? A
detailed Washington Post report focuses on research carried
out by a Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) team (http://ibn.fm/CcAUJ). According to the researchers, one of
the company’s rheumatoid arthritis anti-inflammatory drugs appeared to reduce
the risk of Alzheimer’s disease development by as much as 64 percent.
Pfizer researchers went through thousands of insurance
claims in 2015, reaching the conclusion that the rheumatoid arthritis
pharmaceutical had such an effect on AD. Carrying out a clinical trial to prove
the findings, however, would have been an expensive endeavor in this case, with
uncertain results, causing Pfizer to hold off.
A presentation prepared for review by an internal Pfizer
committee in February 2018 noted that the drug (Enbrel) could “potentially
safely prevent, treat, and slow progression of Alzheimer’s disease.” This
suggests that the right approach to TNF-α inhibition medication has promise.
TNF is an inflammatory cytokine that plays an important role in both
inflammation and the body’s immune response. Soluble TNF (sTNF) is found
circulating in the blood stream, and it has been linked to inflammatory
processes, infections and even cancer.
Some members of the scientific community have pushed for
further testing of the mechanism. According to these professionals, further
examination of anti-inflammatory medications in the treatment of AD is
warranted, because such investigations could highlight new mechanisms for the
effective control and treatment of the condition.
Several pre-clinical studies have shown a connection between
inflammation and Alzheimer’s disease pathology. In one of these trials,
XPro1595 by INmune Bio Inc. (NASDAQ: INMB) prevented the
accumulation of C-terminal amyloid beta protein. The conclusion reached was
that the inhibition of soluble TNF signaling prevents pre-plaque
amyloid-associated neuropathology, a risk factor implicated for its link to AD.
A link between TNF and AD has also been established in the
clinic. Alzheimer’s disease patients have elevated serum levels of TNF. In
addition, high TNF levels are seen to cause people who have mild cognitive
impairment to progress to AD.
XPro1595 is an engineered protein that’s almost the same as
sTNF. There are only two-point mutations in the coding sequence, and XPro1595 is
formulated to keep sTNF from binding to TNFR – a mechanism that has been
studied and shown to reduce pro-inflammatory signals.
A lot more work needs to be done on XPro1595, and, to
advance the pursuit of medication for AD treatment, INmune Bio has secured a $1
million grant from the Alzheimer’s Association. With the funding, INmune Bio
hopes to speed up pre-clinical research and help pharmaceutical developers move
on to clinical testing.
Through the grant, INmune will carry out a phase 1 clinical
trial in 18 patients suffering from mild to moderate AD. XPro1595 will be
administered once per week over the course of three months. Biomarker
inflammation will be assessed in the mid and end points of the trial.
Based in La Jolla, California, INmune Bio is a diversified,
clinical-stage biotechnology company working to develop new immunotherapies
that reprogram patients’ innate immune systems to allow the immune systems to
fight cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. With its programs in oncology and
neurodegenerative disease, the company offers significant investment
opportunities with a considerable ROI.
For more information, visit the company’s website at www.INmuneBio.com
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating
to INMB are available in the company’s newsroom athttp://ibn.fm/INMB
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