FEFU scientist move to preclinical trials of Alzheimer's disease

Feb. 17, 2015 - PRLog -- The related activities are carried out within the framework of the Federal Purpose-Oriented Program «Development of Pharmaceutical and Medical Industry» («Pharma-2020»), in cooperation with the Chemical Diversity Research Institute of the High-Technology Center «HimRar» that is a world leader in medication development field. The scientists expect to obtain «pill prototype» that is ready for clinical trials on humans by the end of 2016. The project leader is Maksim Khotimchenko, Doctor of medical sciences, Head of Pharmacology and Biological Trials Laboratory of the Biomedicine School of the FEFU.

FEFU researchers have managed to obtain unique substance. Its structure is yet to be announced, but it is known that similar substances are used for treatment of cardiovascular diseases to reducethrombus formation.

– In this case we have discovered that the substance promotes the disintegration of amyloid plaques in brain. According to one of hypotheses, it is accumulation of beta-amyloid that triggers Alzheimer’s disease, while accumulation of such plaques leads to memory impairment, as well as disorder of attention and other cognitive abilities. Having performed laboratory trials on animals and cellular structures, we have obtained data, according to which the amount of amyloid is decreasing. This medication is quite likely to make life easier for patients with Alzheimer’s disease, – said Maksim Khotimchenko.

After obtaining preliminary data, according to which this new substance might be effective, the scientists prepared an application for preclinical trial financing and submitted it to the contest of the Federal Purpose-Oriented Program. According to Maksim Khotimchenko, it took more than one attempt to pass Scientific Technical Council, since the researches had been performing additional check of substance toxicity. Finally, in the mid 2014 the application was approved, and the FEFU got financing for carrying out 2-year preclinical trials.

– We need to have proved by the end of 2016 that our medication is effective and safe, i.e. plaques do disintegrate, while laboratory animals have their functions of higher nervous activity recovered. To do this, we have both special methods and equipment, — pointed out Maksim Khotimchenko. – In the end we will need to have developed pharmaceutical form or, in other words, have obtained «pill prototype» that is ready for clinical trials on humans by the end of 2016.

Preclinical trials will be carried out simultaneously at the FEFU and «HimRar», which is located in Moscow Oblast’. Up to the present, the Chemical Diversity Research Institute has actively developed necessary substance, but as early as in February the colleagues will hand over these samples to the FEFU scientists, so they could commence trials on laboratory animals. Members of several subdivisions of the Biomedicine School of the FEFU, i.e. Pharmacology and Biological Trials Laboratory; Pharmacy Subdepartment, Cellular Technologies Laboratory, Molecular Cellular Neurobiology Laboratory, Medical Chemistry Laboratory, as well as the Institute of Marine Biology of FEB RAS, are expected to be involved in this project.