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November 5, 2002
Neurochem presents further scientific evidence of disease modifying activity with its
drug candidate for the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease and Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy.
Two presentations at 32nd Annual Society for Neurosciences Meeting in Orlando.
Neurochem Inc. (TSX : NRM) presented its research findings in an oral and a poster presentation
at the 32nd Annual Society for Neurosciences meeting in Orlando, Florida. In an oral
presentation, results confirmed that the Company's compounds have the potential to alter not
only the course of Alzheimer's Disease (AD), as previously reported, but also demonstrated
effectiveness in slowing the development of Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy (CAA). With Phase II
clinical trials now underway for Cerebril™ and Alzhemed™, these results support
the potential for Neurochem's drug candidate to act as disease modifiers by arresting amyloid
deposition in AD and CAA.
The poster reported that the previously described transgenic mouse model used by the Company
for AD can also be used to evaluate CAA. The transgenic mice gradually develop amyloid
deposition in the brain vessel walls with age. The model was thus used to investigate the
effectiveness of Neurochem's drug candidate on brain and vascular amyloid deposition. Results
of the study demonstrated that Neurochem's compound had a dose-dependent inhibitory effect
on both the development of cerebro-vascular amyloid B (Aß) deposition and on Aß
plasma concentration. This reduction in amyloid levels further confirms the disease
modifying potential of Neurochem's drug candidate for AD and CAA.
"Neurochem has reached a significant stage of development. With our ongoing effort to
better understand the mechanism of action of our GAG mimetic technology, Neurochem is also
successfully becoming a product-driven company with three drug candidates in clinical
trials," said Dr. Louis R. Lamontagne, President and CEO. "By demonstrating the
applicability of the transgenic mouse model of AD to CAA, Neurochem has successfully added
one more proof-of-concept to its portfolio for the development of amyloid-based therapies
for diseases of the Central Nervous System."
About the Presentations
Neurochem's poster and powerpoint presentations can be viewed at
(www.neurochem.com/NewsRoom.htm)
A GAG Mimetic Compound reduces the Parenchymal and Vascular Amyloid Burden in hAPP TgCRND8
Mice
(oral presentation)
Testing the ability of Neurochem's compound to block the deposition of amyloid in a transgenic
model of AD, the molecule was shown to have multiple effects on the amyloid process. Deposition
of amyloid in the brain as well as in the cerebral vasculature was decreased, and the levels
of cerebral and plasmatic amyloid were also reduced, suggesting that Neurochem's compound
favors the clearance of amyloid from the brain. This compound may alter the course of
disease progression in both AD and CAA patients.
Development of Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy in the TgCRND8 Mouse Model of Alzheimer's
Disease
(poster presentation)
The study examined the time-course development of CAA -related pathology in a transgenic
mouse model of AD. In addition to the progressive appearance of plaques, which are typical of
AD pathology, cerebro-vascular amyloid deposits also developed with age. Treatment of mice
with Neurochem's GAG mimetic compound led to a dose-dependent effect on the development of
CAA, reducing the extent of the amyloid deposits in the cerebro-vascular walls by 36% and
70%. Neurochem's compound also had a highly significant dose-dependent effect on Aß
plasma concentration. These results demonstrate the compound's effectiveness to target the
amyloid deposition process in vivo, suggesting its potential therapeutic benefit in
AD and CAA.
About Neurochem
Neurochem is an industry leader in the development of therapeutic drugs and diagnostic tools
for central nervous system (CNS) and amyloid-related diseases associated with aging. The
Company has to date advanced three drug candidates to clinical trials: Fibrillex™, for
the life-threatening orphan disease, secondary amyloidosis in a pivotal Phase II/III clinical
trial, Alzhemed™, for the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease advancing to Phase II clinical
trials, and Cerebril™, for hemorrhagic stroke also advancing to Phase II clinical
trials. The Company has built a strong product pipeline by developing a novel, proprietary
series of compounds that inhibit the formation, deposition and toxic effects of amyloid
fibrils within the body. Neurochem's overall therapeutic programs target CNS disorders
including Alzheimer's disease, epileptic seizures caused by head trauma or acute brain
injury, and hemorrhagic stroke (due to cerebral amyloid angiopathy), and other
life-threatening diseases including systemic amyloidosis and amyloid-associated diabetes
type II. (www.neurochem.com).
All of the statements contained in this news release, other than statements of fact which
are independently verifiable at the date hereof, are forward-looking statements. Such
statements, based as they are on the current expectations of management, inherently involve
numerous risks and uncertainties, known and unknown. Some examples of known risks are: the
impact of general economic conditions, general conditions in the pharmaceutical industry, changes
in the regulatory environment in the jurisdictions in which Neurochem does business, stock
market volatility, fluctuations in costs, and changes to the competitive environment due to
consolidation or otherwise. Consequently, actual future results may differ materially from
the anticipated results expressed in the forward-looking statements.
For further Information, please contact:
Dr. Lise Hébert
Vice President, Corporate Communications
lhebert@neurochem.com
275 Armand-Frappier
Laval (Quebec)
H7V 4A7
Tel: (450) 680-4500
Fax: (450) 680-4501
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