Alpha Cognition: Alzheimer’s Treatment with Minimal Side Effects

Therapeutic option for Alzheimer’s patients

Alpha Cognition is a clinical stage, biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing treatments for under-served neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s Dementia and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).

Alpha Cognition has created ALPHA-1062, a patented new chemical entity that has demonstrated safety and improved tolerability in human clinical trials. It is being developed as a new acetylcholine esterase inhibitor for the treatment of dementia of the Alzheimer’s type, with minimal gastrointestinal side-effects and novel routes of administration. 

Alpha-1062

ALPHA-1062 is a prodrug of an approved AChEI, galantamine.  It has been designed to significantly reduce the side-effects observed with the other acetylcholinesterase inhibitors.                 

ALPHA-1062 is absorbed in the small intestine as an inert drug.  Binding with AChE in the gastrointestinal nervous system is blocked by the addition of a benzoyl ester to galantamine. This reduces overstimulation of local neurons, reduces GI side-effects, and increases bioavailability.  Once absorbed, ALPHA-1062 is metabolized in the liver to the active drug, galantamine and is carried to the brain in the circulatory system.

To decrease side-effects, AChEIs need to be started at a low dose which is then slowly increased until the effective dose is reached.  This titration schedule may take up to 12 weeks and may delay when improvement in cognition is observed.  The improved side-effect profile of ALPHA-1062 may help to optimize the effectiveness of treatment by enabling patients to start treatment at a therapeutic dose and stay on therapy longer. 

For more information on Alpha Cognition (TSX.V: ACOG, OTCQB: ACOGF) please click the investor request info button.