Alzinova

"The fact that we have now dosed all patients with the first dose in the high-dose cohort of our phase 1b study is another significant step forward in the development of our vaccine candidate ALZ-101. We look forward to presenting the results in the fourth quarter of 2024 and continuing our work for an effective treatment against Alzheimer's disease”, comments Kristina Torfgård, CEO of Alzinova AB.

Alzinova announced at the end of June that all patients had been recruited to the high-dose part of the company's phase 1b study with the vaccine candidate ALZ-101. Now all patients have also received the first dose of ALZ-101. In total, all patients will be treated on four occasions during a 16-week period and then each patient will be followed up for another four weeks. Alzinova plans to present data from the high-dose cohort of the study in the fourth quarter of 2024.

The purpose of the high-dose cohort is to evaluate a higher dose of the vaccine candidate ALZ-101 ahead of an upcoming clinical phase 2 study. By evaluating a higher dose, the company can partly strengthen knowledge about the vaccine candidate, partly optimize the conditions and the study design in the phase 2 study.

About Alzheimer's disease and the vaccine candidate ALZ-101
Alzheimer's is a fatal disease that initially affects the brain and leads to problems with memory, thinking and behavior. It is the most common form of dementia, and it usually affects older people. Symptoms develop gradually and include forgetfulness, confusion, and difficulty doing everyday things. The cause of the disease is not entirely clear, but the accumulation of harmful substances in the brain plays a role. There is currently no cure and although the first disease-modifying drugs have recently been approved in the United States, there is still a very long way to go to truly treat and prevent the progression of Alzheimer's disease.

Alzinova's approach, to develop vaccine and antibody treatments that specifically target the toxic accumulations of amyloid-beta in the form of oligomers in the brain, has several advantages over other approaches. Other treatments target larger accumulations of amyloid-beta, so-called plaques in the brain, which are believed to contain both harmful and harmless protein. Alzinova has developed a method that could specifically attack the harmful part in the brain, amyloid-beta oligomers, one of the underlying causes of Alzheimer's disease. Vaccination with ALZ-101 means that the body generates its own antibodies, specific against harmful accumulations of amyloid-beta oligomers in the brain. These harmful substances are expected to be neutralized, thus protecting the brain's synapses from damage that could slow or prevent the development of Alzheimer's disease. The treatment method is also expected to have a lower risk of side effects such as brain edema. The company therefore believes that it is likely to be more successful in contrast to other broader approaches to Alzheimer's disease.