Leuven-based biotech company Remynd is currently testing a new and improved Alzheimer’s medication.
The drug could assist patients in both the early and advanced stages of the disease, according to a press release, with the first results expected in early July.
It is based on REM0046127, a compound Remynd researched last year, which showed participants treated with it performed significantly better in memory tests, demonstrated improved brain activity on scans, and had increased dopamine levels.
Additionally, levels of tau proteins in the brain, which play a role in Alzheimer’s disease, were significantly lower compared to those in participants who received a placebo.
However, the study had to be halted due to liver-related side effects in patients.
Now, the company has developed a new molecule that operates like the previous drug but reportedly without side effects. It also targets septin proteins, which help regulate calcium balance in brain cells—a balance disrupted in Alzheimer’s.
"Similar to cancer, Alzheimer’s disease will likely be treated with a combination of different drugs in the future," says Floor Stam, CEO of Remynd.
"The mechanism of action of our candidate drug is complementary to that of Leqembi (which received approval from the European Commission in mid-April) and other drugs in advanced development stages," Stam said.
"Therefore, it could potentially be part of a combination therapy in early stages of the disease and also help patients in more advanced stages who currently lack options," the CEO added.
The new drug will be tested on healthy volunteers next month to assess safety and understand its absorption in the body better, with plans to subsequently test it on Alzheimer’s patients.
