Panorama Research Incorporated — Department of Health and Human Services SBIR Phase I: NIA

Description

DESCRIPTION provided by applicant Memantine an aminoadamantane is approved to treat moderate to severe Alzheimerandapos s disease in the US and Europe Memantine selectively inhibits abnormally active N methyl D aspartate type glutamate receptor NMDAR channels while preserving normal glutamate activity and physiological neuronal function Lipton Lipton a b Pathological NMDA receptor activity is further down regulated by S nitrosylation of cysteine residues located on the N terminus or extracellular domain Taking advantage of these insights we have developed a series of bifunctional antagonists nitromemantines that not only preferentially bind to the open channel state but also selectively target NO to a second modulatory site using the memantine pharmacophore as a homing motif Our data suggest that some of these memantine analogs have good potency while maintaining selectivity for persistently open NMDAR channels Most importantly they appear to have greater neuroprotective properties than memantine in both in vitro and in vivo animal models Our results provide structural guidance to further optimize and then identify a potential development candidate with an optimal profile to maximize neuroprotective effects PRI owns and the PI is a co inventor on the original nitromemantine patents Wang Recent work from the laboratory of our collaborator and co inventor Prof Stuart Lipton demonstrates the unique superiority of one of our nitromemantines YQW amino diethyl nitrateadamantane versus memantine to rescue protect synapses Talantova This compound preferentially and uniquely modulates pathogenic extrasynaptic NMDARs versus synaptic NMDARs Phase I seeks to identify a development candidate based on our promising dual targeted lead compound Phase II will support translational IND enabling studies The achievement of this milestone will generate a proprietary first in class disease modifying drug for Alzheimerandapos s disease PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE Alzheimerandapos s disease AD is a devastating form of dementia whose incidence is increasing due to an aging population The FDA approved drug memantine is arguably the best available therapeutic for AD We have synthesized improved memantine like drugs and have demonstrated their effectiveness in cell culture and in an animal model Development of these memantine analogs will result in a best in class disease modifying treatment for AD