Pharmaceutical Leaders Pave the Way to New Alzheimer's Treatments

NEW YORK, June 15, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Alzheimer's disease is a devastating brain disorder that now affects about 5.3 million Americans, accounting for one in nine people over the age of 65, according to the Alzheimer's Association. One in three seniors die with the disease or another form of dementia, and, while treatments to slow or stop the disease's progression have been lacking, several pharmaceutical companies are working to change that; India Globalization Capital, Inc. (NYSE: IGC) (IGC Profile), which has products that are backed by data of cannabis-based combination therapies to treat Alzheimer's, pain, seizures and a host of neurological and oncological issues, is lined up with Biogen, Inc. (NASDAQ: BIIB), Anavex Life Sciences Corp. (NASDAQ: AVXL), Axovant Sciences Ltd. (NASDAQ: AXON) and AC Immune SA (NASDAQ: ACIU) to develop medications they hope will yield promising results in treating a difficult and hard to treat illness.

The cost to the U.S. economy from Alzheimer's disease is estimated at $236 billion, including the costs of caring for individuals with the illness. Without effective treatments, the economic impact will continue to climb.

While industry behemoths like Pfizer and Novartis are obvious contenders, India Globalization Capital (IGC) is the first cannabis pharmaceutical company to focus on Alzheimer's disease. While there are more than a dozen publicly traded cannabis pharmaceutical stocks on the market, most of them with market caps much larger than IGC's $12 million, IGC is so far the only one to apply its cannabis-therapies to the treatment of Alzheimer's.

IGC is aggressively advancing its unique position, and earlier this week announced (http://nnw.fm/3QaWV) that it has acquired the exclusive rights to a THC-based treatment for Alzheimer's, moving the company one step closer to clinical trials for its Alzheimer's product.

Under a definitive license agreement with the University of South Florida, IGC is the exclusive licensee of a patent filing for the use of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) as a potential therapeutic agent for the disease. The patent, entitled "THC as a Potential Therapeutic Agent for Alzheimer's Disease," claims discovery of a new pathway in which low doses of THC bind to amyloid beta plaques and prevent those plaques from aggregating on neurons, which is what occurs in Alzheimer's disease and causes cognitive decline.

Here's why the application of TCH (tetrahydrocannabinol), which is the psychoactive compound found in cannabis, is so exciting for the future of Alzheimer's treatment. THC has several known molecular pathways by which it interacts with the body. Numerous studies have shown that low doses of THC can slow the production of neural plaques (considered a key contributor to the progression of Alzheimer's), as well as decrease inflammation, prevent cell death and stimulate cell growth.

The acquisition of IGC's new patent filing provides another layer of protection for the company's proprietary formulation of IGC-AD1, which includes low-doses of THC and is intended to disrupt the buildup of amyloid beta plaques and relieve some of the worst symptoms of Alzheimer's.

If the patent is granted, and it works, IGC will become the owner of a major therapeutic pathway for THC interaction with the body, with significant potential in treating this condition.

"Securing this licensing agreement from the University of South Florida represents a major turning point for IGC as we now look to prepare several of our key products for clinical trials," IGC CEO Ram Mukunda stated in the press release. "We have worked hard to assemble a strong development team and a primary pipeline of four major products addressing large markets and possible blockbuster indications utilizing cannabis-based therapies. We are putting the finishing touches on our products, which may include filing additional patents, and we very much expect to start pursuing clinical trials for our Alzheimer's product and others this year."

IGC's drug development pipeline also includes cannabinoid therapy that targets human and veterinary epilepsy (http://nnw.fm/eW8gb). The company is developing numerous cannabis-based therapies, with a potential international market reach.

There are some other companies working on Alzheimer's with very large valuations, with IGC bringing the potential benefits of cannabis to bear on the disease.

Biogen (NASDAQ: BIIB) has developed and tested aducanumab, a drug that helps eliminate beta amyloid, a sticky plaque found in the brain of Alzheimer's patients. The antibody binds to the plaque, which has the potential to slow the progression of symptoms such as memory loss, confusion, trouble finding words, decreases in judgement, and changes in mood and personality. Phase 1 clinical trials included 165 patients, concluding that high doses of the drug decreased the level of amyloid plaque in the brain, as viewed using positron emission tomography. Scientists noted the slowing of the progression of memory loss in these patients as well.

Another company focused on the development of innovative therapies for Alzheimer's, other central nervous system diseases (CNS) and various types of cancer, is New York-based Anavex Life Sciences (NASDAQ: AVXL). The company's lead product candidate, ANAVEX™ 2-73, is an oral drug currently in phase 2a clinical trials for Alzheimer's, and is also being tested to Parkinson's and other CNS diseases. Phase 1 trials for ANAVEX™ 2-73 were completed with encouraging results attesting to the compound's potential to halt or even reverse the course of Alzheimer's, as well as with an indication of other anticonvulsant, neuroprotective and antidepressant properties. A phase 2 placebo-controlled trial is also underway to determine ANAVEX™2-73 effects on Rett Syndrome, while a separate trial is being conducted for Parkinson's disease. In addition to ANAVEX™2-73, the company is developing several other products targeting various symptoms and effects of Alzheimer's.

Clinical studies are also underway for Axovant Sciences' (NASDAQ: AXON) lead product candidate, Intepirdine (RVT-101), and its effects on Alzheimer's, dementia and Lewy Body Dementia. The Mindset study for Alzheimer's is a phase 3 international, double-blind, multi-center, placebo-controlled clinical trial that aims to assess the tolerability, safety and efficacy of the drug for mild and moderate cases of Alzheimer's. If the trials are successful, the therapy will be approved for commercialization across Europe and the United States. Phase 2 studies are being conducted to evaluate the product's performance for dementia. A novel glycopyrrolate and cholinesterase combination is also being developed for Alzheimer's and Lewy Body Dementia and is currently in phase 1 trials.

One of the world's largest Alzheimer's treatment pipelines is being developed by Swiss-based AC Immune SA (NASDAQ: ACIU). The company is working on seven therapeutic and three diagnostic products in various stages of clinical trials; with the potential to significantly improve treatment and even prevent Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases. All of AC Immune's therapies were discovered and developed via the company's proprietary Morphomer™ and SupraAntigen™ technology platforms. The lead product candidate, an anti-Abeta antibody called Crenezumab with treatment and prevention potential, is currently undergoing phase 3 clinical trials, in collaboration with Roche Holding AG (OTC: RHHBY) subsidiary, Genentech.  

The focus on Alzheimer's by so many biopharmaceutical companies is understandable, given the prevalence of this condition. In May 2017, Congress signed into law a $400 million increase for Alzheimer's research funding at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the fiscal year 2017 budget, marking the second consecutive year that Congress has approved a 'historic' funding increase for the disease.

This move demonstrates the urgency for the more than 5 million Americans living with the disease - a number that's forecast to increase to 16 million by 2050 - and highlights the value of the lineup of companies working to advance their efforts for a cure.

For more information on India Globalization Capital visit India Globalization Capital (IGC)

About NetworkNewsWire 

NetworkNewsWire (NNW) is an information service that provides to users (1) access to our news aggregation and syndication servers, (2) enhanced press release services, and (3) a full array of social communication solutions. As a multifaceted financial news and content distribution company with an extensive team of contributing journalists and writers, NNW is uniquely positioned to best serve private and public companies that desire to reach a wide audience of investors, consumers, journalists and the general public. NNW has an ever-growing distribution network of more than 5,000 key syndication outlets across the country. By cutting through the overload of information in today's market, NNW brings its clients unparalleled visibility, recognition and brand awareness. NNW is where news, content and information converge.

http://www.NetworkNewsWire.com    

212-418-1217 Office

[email protected]  

Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the NetworkNewsWire website applicable to all content provided by NNW, wherever published or re-published: http://NNW.fm/Disclaimer      

DISCLAIMER: NetworkNewsWire (NNW) is the source of the Article and content set forth above. References to any issuer other than the profiled issuer are intended solely to identify industry participants and do not constitute an endorsement of any issuer and do not constitute a comparison to the profiled issuer. FN Media Group (FNM) is a third-party publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media channels. FNM is NOT affiliated with NNW or any company mentioned herein. The commentary, views and opinions expressed in this release by NNW are solely those of NNW and are not shared by and do not reflect in any manner the views or opinions of FNM. Readers of this Article and content agree that they cannot and will not seek to hold liable NNW and FNM for any investment decisions by their readers or subscribers. NNW and FNM and their respective affiliated companies are a news dissemination and financial marketing solutions provider and are NOT registered broker-dealers/analysts/investment advisers, hold no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security.

The Article and content related to the profiled company represent the personal and subjective views of the Author, and are subject to change at any time without notice. The information provided in the Article and the content has been obtained from sources which the Author believes to be reliable. However, the Author has not independently verified or otherwise investigated all such information. None of the Author, NNW, FNM, or any of their respective affiliates, guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any such information. This Article and content are not, and should not be regarded as investment advice or as a recommendation regarding any particular security or course of action; readers are strongly urged to speak with their own investment advisor and review all of the profiled issuer's filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission before making any investment decisions and should understand the risks associated with an investment in the profiled issuer's securities, including, but not limited to, the complete loss of your investment.

NNW & FNM HOLDS NO SHARES OF ANY COMPANY NAMED IN THIS RELEASE.

This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. "Forward-looking statements" describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as "may", "future", "plan" or "planned", "will" or "should", "expected," "anticipates", "draft", "eventually" or "projected". You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company's annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements.  The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and NNW and FNM undertake no obligation to update such statements.

FN Media Group, LLC
Media Contact e-mail: [email protected]
+1(954)345-0611

SOURCE NetworkNewsWire