AlzeCure Pharma AB has announced it has received the first payment of a EUR 2.5 million grant from the European Innovation Council (EIC). The funding will support a phase 2a clinical study of the company’s innovative drug candidate NeuroRestore ACD856 for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.
The grant, awarded through the EIC Accelerator, will enable AlzeCure to advance trials in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. ACD856 is being developed to improve learning and memory function and to influence the course of the illness.
The compound is a Trk-PAM, a new type of drug designed to enhance the brain’s BDNF and NGF signalling. Impaired activity in these pathways is associated with reduced cognition in conditions such as Alzheimer’s, sleep disorders, traumatic brain injury and Parkinson’s disease.
Earlier clinical studies have shown that ACD856 is safe, absorbed effectively into the brain, and activates neuronal pathways important for cognition and depression. Preclinical data also indicates positive effects on neuronal communication, learning, memory, and neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties, including improved mitochondrial function.
Johan Sandin, Chief Scientific Officer at AlzeCure Pharma, said: “ACD856 has a unique mechanism of action and the potential to improve both learning and memory capacity as well as having disease-modifying properties. This is significant for patients with Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.
“The support from the EIC Accelerator is a validation and significant recognition of the project’s potential and level of innovation. The grant enables the continued clinical studies and accelerates the development of this much-needed Alzheimer’s treatment for patients.”
Martin Jönsson, CEO of AlzeCure Pharma, explained: “We are very pleased to have received this grant from the EIC, which is a strong validation of our work and crucial for bringing this new treatment to patients. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia and affects approximately 55 million people globally, and the number of patients is expected to triple over the next 30 years.
He added: “The disease poses a great burden on both patients, relatives and society, and there is currently a great need for new, effective treatments. With the grant from the EIC, AlzeCure Pharma takes an important step towards being able to offer a new treatment option for this serious disease.”
