Oligomerix to Present at AAIC 2020 Conference on Small Molecule Inhibitor of Tau Self-Association
However, clinical-stage programs targeting tau are currently focused on intervention after tau proteins have misfolded and oligomers have formed.
Oligomerix, Inc., a privately held company pioneering the development of small molecule therapeutics targeting tau for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and related neurodegenerative disorders, today announced that the company will be participating at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) 2020 on July 29.
James Moe, Ph.D., MBA, President and CEO of Oligomerix will participate in the virtual session chatroom “Drug Development: Preclinical Small Molecule Drug Discovery” on Wednesday, July 29 from 8:30-8:55am CDT (9:30-9:55 am EDT). Additionally, Dr. Moe will discuss the company’s innovative approach in an online video presentation titled “In vivo validation of a lead compound targeting tau self-association in two mouse models of tauopathy,” which will be available July 29 beginning at 12am CDT (1am EDT).
Most clinical studies for AD have focused on amyloid beta, but have had limited success in patients. There continues to be mounting evidence that tau pathology drives neurodegeneration in diseases like AD, frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). However, clinical-stage programs targeting tau are currently focused on intervention after tau proteins have misfolded and oligomers have formed. Oligomerix’s novel approach targets tau self-association, the initial step before tau aggregate formation.
AAIC Conference 2020 will be held virtually from July 27 to July 31. Registration and attendance are available free of charge to all attendees.
About Oligomerix’s Lead Program
Oligomerix’s lead candidate is a small molecule inhibitor of tau self-association and targets the beginning of the tau aggregation cascade. The activity of the drug translated from in vitro and cell assays to animal studies, validating the company’s screening approach. In vivo proof-of-concept studies demonstrated compound efficacy in two transgenic mouse models with tau pathology representative of AD and frontotemporal dementia. In a study recently published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, Oligomerix and the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research reported that the compound inhibited hippocampal self-associated tau in the htau mouse model of tauopathy which expresses the six CNS isoforms of the human tau protein. Initial preclinical safety studies show the drug is well tolerated with no adverse events or behavioral abnormalities observed. The compound is being developed with an accompanying novel biomarker.
About Oligomerix, Inc.
Oligomerix is an emerging biotechnology company focused on developing disease-modifying therapeutics for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias by targeting tau self-association. The company’s drug discovery platform has identified a pipeline of novel small molecule inhibitors, with preclinical IND-enabling studies in progress for the lead program. Oligomerix’s small molecule approach blocks the formation of all tau aggregates by targeting tau self-association, known as the beginning of the aggregation cascade, whereas other companies have focused on targeting large tau aggregates formed downstream. The NYC-based company is located at the Ullmann Research Center for Health Sciences within the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
Oligomerix is seeking strategic partners to support the acceleration and advancement of these important programs. For more information about Oligomerix, please visit http://www.oligomerix.com.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200723005275/en/