Satori Pharmaceuticals Demonstrates its Approach to Modulating Gamma-Secretase Effective In Reducing Plaque-Forming Amyloid Beta Peptide

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., July 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Satori™ Pharmaceuticals today announced the presentation of two posters at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease (ICAD) taking place in Paris, France, July 16-21, 2011. Both posters illuminate the unique biological activity associated with Satori’s approach to the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.  The posters were titled, “Gamma-secretase modulators do not show a potency shift in high expressing model systems,” and “Classification of gamma-secretase modulators by their effect on pharmacological profiles of amyloid beta peptides.”

Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by the formation of amyloid beta plaques in the brain. Plaques are primarily composed of two main forms of amyloid beta: AB40 and AB42. Satori’s program aims to reduce the amount of AB42 in the brain by modulating gamma-secretase, thus lowering brain amyloid, plaque formation and associated damage to normal neuronal function.

“The studies presented at ICAD demonstrate that by modulating gamma-secretase we are able to effectively lower AB42 levels – the main component of amyloid beta plaques,” said Jeff Ives, Ph.D., CEO and Board Member of Satori Pharmaceuticals. “Some of the other compounds in development target all gamma-secretase activity, whereas our approach modulates gamma-secretase in a way that selectively reduces the production of AB42.”

Amyloid beta is believed to have a role in normal neuronal function and shorter forms of amyloid beta may also reduce aggregation of AB42. In addition, complete inhibition of gamma-secretase activity can lead to significant side effects by interfering with the processing of Notch and other substrates.  Satori’s approach to selectively modulating gamma-secretase with the Company’s proprietary class of molecules is the subject of the posters presented at ICAD. The posters demonstrate that gamma-secretase modulators (GSMs) achieve a reduction in AB42 levels without altering total amyloid beta levels in cell lines and animal models of disease. These results are promising for the continuation of Satori’s GSM program. The Company intends to file an IND on the lead GSM in 2012.

To view the full poster entitled “Gamma-secretase modulators do not show a potency shift in high expressing model systems,” click here.

To view the full poster entitled “Classification of gamma-secretase modulators by their effect on pharmacological profiles of amyloid beta peptides,” click here.

About Satori™ Pharmaceuticals

Satori Pharmaceuticals (www.satoripharma.com) is committed to the development of disease modifying therapies for Alzheimer’s disease through innovative approaches that selectively target the key neurotoxic mediators and pathways of this debilitating neurodegenerative disorder.

Satori was founded in 2005 by Dr. Mark Findeis and PureTech Ventures and is guided by a world renowned group of advisors including Dennis Selkoe, M.D., the Vincent and Stella Coates Professor of Neurologic Diseases at the Brigham and Women's Hospital, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School; Donald Price, M.D., Professor of Pathology, Neurology, and Neuroscience and Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Pathology and Director of the Division of Neuropathology at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Christopher Eckman, Ph.D., Director for Research and Academic Affairs, MidAtlantic Neonatology and Atlantic Neonatal Research Institute Atlantic Health Systems and Professor of Neuroscience at the Mayo Clinic; David Holtzman, M.D., Andrew B. and Gretchen P. Jones Professor of Neurology and Molecular Biology & Pharmacology at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis; and Paul J. Reider, Ph.D., a faculty member in the department of chemistry at Princeton University and a former senior leader of R&D at Amgen and Merck.

Satori successfully closed a $22M Series B round of financing in early 2009 with a leading investment syndicate of InterWest Partners, New Enterprise Associates and Prospect Venture Partners.

SOURCE Satori(TM) Pharmaceuticals