Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation Funds ALS Biopharma to Develop Small Molecules for Alzheimer's Disease

NEW YORK, Jan. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) announced today that it has awarded a grant of $195,000 to ALS Biopharma, LLC to develop therapeutics targeted at clearing toxic proteins implicated in Alzheimer's disease.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090805/DC57332LOGO)

The program will identify and develop small-molecule brain-penetrant inducers of heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70).  Hsp70 clears two proteins believed to be involved in Alzheimer's disease, the toxic form of tau protein and beta-amyloid.   The company first developed the Hsp70 program to clear insoluble protein deposits seen in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).  

"We greatly appreciate the ADDF funding because it allows us to explore small-molecule regulation of the heat shock response to treat neurological disorders by taking advantage of our established competencies in pharmacology and medicinal chemistry," said Dr. Allen Reitz, CEO of ALS Biopharma.

"We are excited to support ALS Biopharma's innovative program in this target area," said Howard Fillit, MD, Executive Director of the ADDF.   "Small molecule therapeutics targeting Hsp70 would result in a disease-modifying therapy for Alzheimer's disease and could also be employed in related neurodegenerative diseases, such as ALS, Parkinson's and Huntington's."

About the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation (www.AlzDiscovery.org)

The ADDF (www.AlzDiscovery.org) is the only public charity whose sole mission is to accelerate the discovery and development of drugs to prevent, treat and cure Alzheimer's disease, related dementias and cognitive aging. Since 1998, the ADDF has granted more than $45 million to fund over 325 Alzheimer's drug discovery and development programs in academic centers and biotechnology companies in 17 countries. 

About ALS Biopharma, LLC (www.alsbiopharma.com)

ALS Biopharma, LLC (ALSBio) is an emerging biotechnology company located at the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.  ALSBio is an emerging biotechnology company dedicated to the discovery of therapeutics and diagnostics for the treatment of the debilitating neurological orphan indication of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease) and related disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.  Modern methods in drug discovery are used including compound library synthesis and screening.  In partnership with top academic and industrial laboratories, ALSBio is researching both small molecule and biologic protein-based approaches to provide therapeutic relief to patients in need.

SOURCE Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation