Acumen Pharmaceuticals, a leading pre-clinical biotech company in
Alzheimer's therapeutics, announced the publication of a
groundbreaking study demonstrating that ADDLs (amyloid beta-derived
diffusible ligands) block key insulin signaling pathways in the brain.
The study, co-authored by Acumen founder and chief science officer Dr.
Grant Krafft, former Acumen scientist Dr. Wei-Qin Zhao, and scientists
in the laboratory of Acumen co-founder Dr. William Klein, appeared in
the recent issue of the Federation of American Societies for
Experimental Biology (FASEB) Journal.
ADDLs are small soluble neurotoxic protein assemblies discovered
by Acumen founding scientists over a decade ago, and they are now
widely regarded as the cause of early memory failure and eventual
degeneration in Alzheimer's disease. Earlier research demonstrated
that ADDLs bind specifically at nerve synapses where they trigger
abnormal signaling, which interferes with critical memory pathways.
These latest results now reveal that ADDL signaling also causes a
rapid loss of synaptic insulin receptors, which are involved in
diverse brain functions including synaptic activities required for
learning and memory.
"We've known for some time that ADDL signaling blocks key learning
and memory pathways, and now we've learned that ADDLs also interfere
with key insulin pathways crucial for nerve cell function and
survival," said Dr. Krafft. "These new details expand our
understanding of how ADDLs compromise nerve cells in the brain, and
they strengthen Acumen's resolve to develop anti-ADDL therapeutics to
reverse the devastating memory loss in AD.
About Acumen
Acumen Pharmaceuticals Inc. (www.acumenpharm.com) is a
venture-backed, pre-clinical biotech company focused on developing
disease modifying therapeutics for Alzheimer's disease and other
memory-related disorders. Founded in 1996, Acumen owns or has licensed
the critical patents underlying the ADDL mechanism now widely believed
to cause Alzheimer's disease. Acumen has partnered with Merck & Co. to
develop anti-ADDL antibody therapeutics and diagnostics and has two
proprietary internal therapeutic approaches to stop ADDL-related
diseases. NeuroVentures LLC has made a seed investment in the company.
