Addex Pharmaceuticals Ltd. announced today that it has observed efficacy in a model of Alzheimer’s disease using a recently discovered orally- available drug-candidate. The proprietary molecule specifically inhibits a receptor subtype called the metabotropic glutamate receptor 2 (mGluR2) via negative allosteric modulation (NAM). An Addex mGluR2 NAM is scheduled to enter Phase I clinical testing in healthy volunteers during 2011.

“Specifically targeting the signaling of the neurotransmitter glutamate using mGluR2 NAM is one of the most promising avenues of research for treating cognitive symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease,” said Vincent Mutel, CEO of Addex. “We are excited that our mGluR2 NAM has shown that it can improve memory in this pathophysiologically relevant model. Although we are years away from knowing if the drug will work in humans, recently published academic research suggests that mGluR2 inhibition also may slow the progression of this devastating disease.”

The Addex mGluR2 NAM was tested in a model that mimics aspects of the pathophysiology and cognitive impairment, including progressive memory impairment, observed in human Alzheimer’s disease. In the preclinical study, the mGluR2 NAM dose-dependently reversed memory deficit exhibited after beta- amyloid administration. Working memory impairment was measured using the novel object recognition (NOR) test. The statistically significant effect was similar to the active comparator used in the same experiment, donepezil (Aricept), the benchmark marketed drug currently used to treat symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. Furthermore, the mGluR2 NAM did not change locomotor activity compared to vehicle.