ADv

Alzheimer's Disease with Vascular Pathology (ADv) -- focused dementia population with high unmet need.

Alzheimer’s Disease with Vascular Pathology (ADv)

In standard classifications, Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and Vascular Dementia (VD) are the two most common forms of dementia. However, it is well accepted that many dementia patients have more than one form of dementia.  Over 50% of individuals with AD also have signs of VD, and these patients often have more rapidly progressing disease and higher symptom severity. There are no approved therapies for VD, and only symptomatic treatments with limited benefit approved for AD.

ADv reflects the complex interplay of multiple pathological mechanisms underlying dementia, including neurovascular dysfunction, impaired cellular bioenergetics, and inflammation. The ADv patient is defined by a combination of AD pathology, sub-cortical vascular disease, and cardiovascular (CV) risk factors. We selected this population of dementia patients because CY6463 has the potential to address the pathophysiological processes driving their disease.

 

ADv – An identifiable subset of dementia patients
  • AD pathology AND
  • Sub-cortical vascular disease AND
  • CV Risk Factors

We are initiating Phase 2a study to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and pharmacodynamics of CY6463 in ADv.

Pathophysiology

Major contributing factors to rapid disease progression:

  • NO dysregulation
  • Endothelial cell loss
  • Neuronal loss
  • Vascular leakage
  • Inflammation
  • Impaired blood flow
CY6463 pharmacology

Preclinical data suggest CY6463 has potential to:

Improve

  • Cerebral blood flow
  • Neuroinflammation
  • Endothelial health
  • Cellular energetics

Prevent

  • Neurodegeneration
Study Design

Treatment

  • Once-daily, oral CY6463
  • Three month treatment

Enrichment Strategy

  • Confirmed AD pathology (PET, CSF)
  • 2+ cardiovascular risk factors
  • Mild-moderate subcortical small-vessel disease on MRI
  • Mini Mental State Exam score (20-26)

Objectives

  • Establish safety and pharmacodynamic effects of CY6463 in a short-term study
  • De-risk progression to larger, longer symptomatic and disease modification trials
Assessments
  • Neuroimaging
  • Electroencephalography
  • CSF sampling to evaluate disease biomarkers
  • Cognitive and behavior tests

To learn more about the study, see the study listing on ClinicalTrials.gov.

For more information, visit Alzheimer’s Association

References

  • Cortes-Canteli M, Iadecola C. Alzheimer’s Disease and Vascular Aging: JACC Focus Seminar. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2020;75(8):942-951
    This paper reviews the collective evidence that supports the contribution of vascular pathology to Alzheimer’s disease and age-related dementias. Alzheimer’s disease is the fifth leading cause of death worldwide and affects 10% of the population over 65 years old. Vascular alterations in AD are many and include cerebrovascular atherosclerosis, microvascular rarefaction, cerebral amyloid angiopathy, blood-brain barrier disruption, and reduced cerebral blood flow. These alterations are linked to Aβ deposition that may lead to and/or exacerbate the associated vascular dysfunction, for example through oxidative stress. In turn, Aβ deposition may be exacerbated by the vascular dysfunction, for example, via reduced vascular clearance. The central illustration summarizes vascular changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease, and Table 1, which includes illustrations, provides an overview of the cellular pathology of the neurovascular unit in Alzheimer’s disease. Cardiovascular risk factors associated with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease include arterial stiffening, hypertension, cardiac diseases/abnormalities, and a procoagulant state. Vascular aging and Alzheimer’s Aβ pathologies act in concert to “reduce cerebral perfusion and impair the ability of the cerebral circulation to supply energy substrates and oxygen to active brain regions” thereby leading to dementia
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