Probiodrug AG to publish its 2014 Annual Report on March 31, 2015
Probiodrug to present at BioCapital Europe and Swiss Biotech Day
Probiodrug AG to publish its 2014 Annual Report on March 31, 2015
Probiodrug to present at BioCapital Europe and Swiss Biotech Day
Anti-pGlu-3 abeta monoclonal Antibody Ig isotype affects plaque clearance
HALLE/SAALE, Germany, 20 March 2015 – Probiodrug AG (Euronext Amsterdam: PBD), a biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutic solutions to treat Alzheimer’s disease (AD), announces today that the company will present data on its specific pGlu-Abeta mouse antibody 17/1 at the 12th International Conference on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases and Related Neurological Disorders (AD/PDTM 2015) in Nice, France.
Data presented result from a collaboration between Probiodrug and the research team led by Professor Cynthia Lemere from the Center for Neurologic Diseases at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA. The poster will be presented on Saturday 21st March 2015 as part of the session entitled “Beta-Amyloid Diseases – Therapeutic Targets & Mechanisms for Treatment: Abeta, truncated & pGlu-Abeta”.
The study addressed specifically the effect of the antibody’s Ig isotype on microglia-mediated Abeta plaque clearance in an in-vitro phagocytosis assay using brain tissues from 20-month-old APP dE9 mice. Antibodies used were Mouse IgG1, IgG2a and an IgG2a mutation displaying reduced capacity of complement activation, which all have similar affinity to the pGlu-Abeta epitope. The effects were evaluated by staining and quantifying plaques (immunofluorescence/histochemistry) and by biochemical ELISA’s in order to determine the levels of various Abeta variants in the brain homogenates. It was found that the mouse pGlu-Abeta IgG2a antibody was the most efficient, followed by the mutated IgG2a form while the IgG1 was the least effective in clearing Abeta plaques.
Inge Lues, Chief Development Officer at Probiodrug, commented: “These findings were important for Probiodrug in selecting the IgG subtype for Probiodrug’s Humanized and De-immunized human pGlu-Abeta antibody PBD-C06.”
Poster details
Title: ANTI-PGLU-3 ABETA MAB IG ISOTYPE AFFECTS PLAQUE CLEARANCE
Authors: Helen Crehan1,2, Jens-Ulrich Rahfeld3,4, Holger Cynis4, Kevin X. Le1, Martin Kleinschmidt3,4, Brian O’Nuallain1,2, Hans-Ulrich Demuth3,4, Inge Lues3, Stephan Schilling3,4, Cynthia A. Lemere1,2
1Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA USA
2Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
3Probiodrug AG, Halle (Saale), Germany
4Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Department of Drug Design and Target Validation, Halle (Saale), Germany
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For more information please contact:
Probiodrug
Dr Konrad Glund, CEO
Email: contact@probiodrug.de
Hume Brophy
Mary Clark, Supriya Mathur, Hollie Vile
Tel: +44 (0) 203 440 5653
Email: probiodrug@humebrophy.com
Notes to Editors:
About Probiodrug AG
Headquartered in Halle, Germany, Probiodrug AG is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of new therapeutic products for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.
Founded in 1997, the company successfully developed a novel therapeutic concept for diabetes – the DP4 inhibitors – which provided the basis for a novel class of antidiabetics – the gliptins. Its core capabilities are based on its long-standing expertise in the elucidation of the structure and function of enzymes involved in the modification of proteins and peptides, which play a central role in pathological conditions.
Today Probiodrug’s aim is to become a leading company in the development of Alzheimer’s disease treatments and to thereby provide a better life for Alzheimer’s disease patients. It has identified a new therapeutic concept linked to disease initiation and progression. The development approaches are targeting pyroglutamate-Abeta (pGlu-Abeta) as a therapeutic strategy to fight Alzheimer’s disease. The Company has medical use and composition of matter patents related to the inhibition of Glutaminyl Cyclase (QC) and anti-pGlu-Abeta- specific monoclonal antibodies, providing it, in the Company’s view, with a leading position in this field of research. www.probiodrug.de
About Alzheimer’s disease
Alzheimer’s disease is a neurological disorder, which is the most common form of dementia, and ultimately leads to death. Because Alzheimer’s disease cannot be cured and is degenerative, the affected patients must increasingly rely on others for assistance. Today, over 35 million people worldwide currently live with the condition and this number is expected to double by 2030 and to more than triple by 2050 to 115 million (World Alzheimer Report 2013).
Forward Looking Statements
Information set forth in this press release contains forward-looking statements, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements contained herein represent the judgment of Probiodrug AG as of the date of this press release. Such forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, and which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in these forward-looking statements. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any such statements to reflect any change in our expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.