Alzheimer's and Diabetes Drugs Move into Phase II

MaRS tenant Transition Therapeutics Inc. — in partnership with Elan Corporation, plc – has begun a Phase II clinical trial for a potential new drug to treat Alzheimer’s disease.

The company has also signed an exclusive deal with Eli Lilly and Company to develop and commercialize its diabetes-related compounds.

“These partnerships are very positive indicators for the Ontario biopharma industry,” noted MaRS CEO Ilse Treurnicht. “Transition Therapeutics is one of the province’s most promising companies and we’re extremely proud to have them located here at MaRS.”

With respect to its diabetes-related compounds, Transition (NASDAQ: TTHI, TSX: TTH) has entered into a licensing and collaboration agreement granting Lilly exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialize Transition’s gastrin-based therapies, including the lead compound TT-223, which is currently in early Phase II
testing. Gastrin-based therapies are an emerging class of potential diabetes therapies that have been shown to provide sustained improvement in glycemic control in preclinical models and early clinical studies.

On the Alzheimer’s front, patients in 65 sites across North America will be enrolled in an 18-month controlled study of the experimental drug, known as ELND005 (AZD-103), administered orally, for patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) offered ELND005 fast track designation, which facilitates development and may expedite regulatory review of drugs that the FDA recognizes as potentially addressing an unmet medical need for serious or life-threatening conditions. An estimated 300,000 Canadians over age 65 have Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive brain disorder that gradually destroys a person’s memory and ability to learn, reason, make judgments, communicate and carry out daily activities.

ELND005 is part of a new disease-modifying group of drugs that has the potential to slow the progression of disease and improve cognitive function by reducing the build up of beta-amyloid, the main component of plaque deposits found in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients. Read more at www.transitiontherapeutics.com.

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