On 23 January, researchers from Cortexyme - a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing novel treatments for altering the course of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative disorders – reported that periodontitis, often known as gum disease, may contribute to the development of AD. Findings were published in the journal Science Advances.
In the published study, the bacteria involved in periodontitis called gingipain was shown to be present in the brains of people with AD and to be significantly correlated with AD diagnosis with an increasing tau and ubiquitin pathology. In addition, gingipains were found to be neurotoxic in cell culture with detrimental and fragmented effects on tau. Additional tests on mouse models showed that gingipain infection led to an increased production of Aβ in the brain.
Scientists synthesised selective, brain-penetrant and small-molecules targeting gingipains namely COR286 and COR271. Using mouse models, they noted that gingipain inhibitors could reduce the load of gingipain in the mouse brain, decrease the neurodegeneration and block the Aβ production.
The company completed its Phase I trial of COR388 where the experimental drug appeared to be safe and well tolerated. It expects to launch a Phase II/III trial this year in people with mild to moderate AD.
