MELBOURNE, Australia and SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 7, 2022
/PRNewswire/ -- Alterity Therapeutics (ASX: ATH, NASDAQ: ATHE)
("Alterity" or "the Company"), a biotechnology company dedicated to
developing disease modifying treatments for neurodegenerative
diseases, today announced a poster presentation from the
ongoing Biomarkers of Progression in Multiple System Atrophy
(bioMUSE) natural history study was given at the American Autonomic
Society (AAS) 2022 Annual Conference held November 2-5, 2022.
Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) is a progressive neurodegenerative
disease that presents with motor and prominent autonomic symptoms.
Major sources of disability in MSA result from motor symptoms
characteristic of Parkinson's disease and impaired ability to
maintain normal blood pressure, bowel function and bladder
control. Problems with urination are a common symptom
experienced in MSA and can occur at any time during the disease
process. The poster, entitled, Urinary Symptom Profile in Early
Multiple System Atrophy, evaluates for the first time patient
reported urinary symptoms utilizing the Urinary Symptom Profile
(USP) in early MSA. The USP is a questionnaire that comprehensively
assesses stress incontinence, overactive bladder, and urinary
obstruction signs and their severity.
"It is important to characterize the impact of urinary symptoms
in early MSA, as they can have a profound negative impact on
quality of life, even at this stage of illness," said David Stamler, M.D., Chief Executive Officer,
Alterity. "The USP is a validated rating scale, and the study
results suggest that the USP can be used for comprehensive
evaluation of urinary complaints in a group of patients similar to
those we are studying in Phase 2. BioMuse continues to
generate important insights on the symptoms and challenges faced in
MSA."
For the study, the USP was applied to a cohort of early MSA
participants (n=16). In addition to completing the USP
questionnaire, all participants completed a neurologic examination
and were assessed using rating scales for MSA. The USP score
was then correlated with the rating scales. In early MSA, the most
severe urinary symptoms observed were an overactive bladder,
specifically urgency and frequency.
About ATH434
Alterity's lead candidate, ATH434, is an oral agent designed to
inhibit the aggregation of pathological proteins implicated in
neurodegeneration. ATH434 has been shown preclinically to reduce
α-synuclein pathology and preserve nerve cells by restoring normal
iron balance in the brain. As an iron chaperone, it has excellent
potential to treat Parkinson's disease as well as various
Parkinsonian disorders such as Multiple System Atrophy (MSA).
ATH434 successfully completed Phase 1 studies demonstrating the
agent is well tolerated and achieved brain levels comparable to
efficacious levels in animal models of MSA. ATH434 has been granted
Orphan designation for the treatment of MSA by the U.S. FDA and the
European Commission.
About bioMUSE
Biomarkers of progression in Multiple System Atrophy (bioMUSE)
is an ongoing, natural history study that aims to track the
progression of individuals with MSA, a Parkinsonian disorder
without approved therapy. The study is being conducted in
collaboration with Vanderbilt
University Medical Center in the U.S. under the direction of
Daniel Claassen, MD, Associate
Professor of Neurology and Principal Investigator. Natural history
studies are important for characterizing disease progression in
selected patient populations. The study has provided rich data for
optimizing the design of Alterity's Phase 2 clinical trial and will
be expanded to include a total of 20 individuals with MSA.
The ongoing study will continue to provide vital information on
early stage MSA individuals, inform the selection of biomarkers
suitable to evaluate target engagement and preliminary efficacy,
and deliver clinical data to characterize disease progression in a
population that mirrors those to be enrolled in the Phase 2
clinical trial.
About Multiple System Atrophy
Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) is a rare, neurodegenerative
disease characterized by failure of the autonomic nervous
system and impaired movement. The symptoms reflect the progressive
loss of function and death of different types of nerve cells in the
brain and spinal cord. It is a rapidly progressive disease and
causes profound disability. MSA is a Parkinsonian disorder
characterized by a variable combination of slowed movement and/or
rigidity, autonomic instability that affects involuntary functions
such as blood pressure maintenance and bladder control, and
impaired balance and/or coordination that predisposes to falls. A
pathological hallmark of MSA is the accumulation of the
protein α-synuclein within glia, the support cells of the central
nervous system, and neuron loss in multiple brain regions. MSA
affects approximately 15,000 individuals in the U.S., and while
some of the symptoms of MSA can be treated with medications,
currently there are no drugs that are able to slow disease
progression and there is no cure.1
1National Institute of Health: Neurological Disorders
and Stroke, Multiple System Atrophy Fact Sheet
About Alterity Therapeutics Limited
Alterity Therapeutics is a clinical stage biotechnology company
dedicated to creating an alternate future for people
living with neurodegenerative diseases. The Company's lead
asset, ATH434, has the potential to treat various Parkinsonian
disorders. Alterity also has a broad drug discovery platform
generating patentable chemical compounds to intercede in disease
processes. The Company is based in Melbourne, Australia, and San Francisco, California, USA. For further
information please visit the Company's web site at
www.alteritytherapeutics.com.
Authorisation & Additional information
This announcement was authorized by David Stamler, CEO of Alterity Therapeutics
Limited.
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SOURCE Alterity Therapeutics