Data shows Argenica’s drug inhibits another main cause of Alzheimer’s disease

Argenica Therapeutics preclinical data shows ARG-007 inhibits abnormal tau proteins – a main cause of Alzheimer’s disease
Global Alzheimer’s disease market set to grow at 16.2% CAGR from now to 2030
The company is progressing in vivo animal studies to confirm efficacy

Argenica Therapeutics says preclinical data shows its ARG-007 drug inhibits yet another of the main abnormal proteins which causes Alzheimer’s disease.

In August, the company reported the drug caused an 84% reduction in cellular uptake of Alpha-Synuclein (α-syn), a key hallmark linked to neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

The market opportunity is huge. The global Alzheimer’s disease therapeutics market size was valued at US$4.04 billion in 2021 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.2% from 2022 to 2030.

And according to the World Health Organization, the economic cost burden will range from US$1.3 trillion to US$2.8 trillion by 2030.

Now, the latest pre-clinical data from two separate studies shows ARG-007 significantly inhibits the cellular uptake and aggregation of the tau protein in two different in vitro Alzheimer’s disease models.

The aggregation of tau protein into tangles inside brain cells, and the spread of abnormal tau within the brain through cellular uptake, is thought to be a significant cause of Alzheimer’s disease, with the spread and cellular uptake of abnormal tau a key hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease progression.

Ideal drug candidate for neurodegenerative conditions

The two studies confirm ARG-007 has the capacity to significantly reduce the uptake of abnormal tau into brain cells, with a 68% and 49% reduction seen in the two different studies, thereby potentially limiting the spread of abnormal tau between brain cells.

They also confirm the drug inhibits intracellular tau aggregation by up to 89% in the first study and 35% in the second study.

These studies in combination with previously reported data on the ability of ARG-007 to reduce beta-amyloid aggregation, suggests ARG-007 could have a significant impact on reducing the effects of key proteins implicated in Alzheimer’s disease.

“This ability of ARG-007 to reduce tau cellular uptake and abnormal aggregation of tau within neurons in these two preclinical studies is extremely encouraging,” Argenica Therapeutics (ASX:AGN) managing director Dr Liz Dallimore said.

“It provides further confirmation that ARG-007 can act on multiple targets and in multiple ways, making it an ideal drug candidate for neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease.”

Currently, there are no approved drugs targeting tau protein aggregation and cellular uptake.

In vivo animal studies planned

AGN is continuing to progress in vivo animal studies to further confirm the efficacy of ARG-007 in Alzheimer’s disease.

Mice will receive multiple doses of ARG-007 over an extended period of time, with results to assess the effect on beta-amyloid levels and plaques, tau protein levels, neuroinflammation, and neurodegeneration.

The company will update the market as milestones are met.

This article was developed in collaboration with Argenica Therapeutics, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.