Stockholm, July 5, 2023 – Umecrine Cognition AB today announced that results from a study on a preclinical model of Parkinson’s disease are being presented as a poster at the 6th World Parkinson Congress in Barcelona, July 4-7. The results show that the company’s clinical drug candidate golexanolone reverses fatigue, anxiety, depression, and some cognitive and motor alterations in the Parkinson’s disease model. The poster is based on a preclinical study carried out in collaboration with Dr. Vicente Felipo at the Laboratory of Neurobiology, Centro de Investigación Principe Felipe in Valencia, Spain, and will be presented by Dr. Paula Izquierdo-Altarejos.
The study was based on a preclinical model of Parkinson’s disease used to evaluate the effect of golexanolone on different hallmark symptoms observed in patients with Parkinson’s disease, such as fatigue, anxiety, depression, cognitive impairment, and alterations in motor function. The results showed that golexanolone reversed the increase in fatigue, anxiety, and improved short-term memory. Also, in a sucrose preference test, golexanolone was seen to reverse anhedonia, a symptom of depression. Top-line results from the study were first announced by Umecrine Cognition in January 2023.
“We are very pleased that our abstract was accepted for presentation at the World Parkinson Congress, giving us the opportunity to enlighten the international Parkinson’s community on the potential effects of golexanolone in treating symptoms of this devastating disease. Treatment with golexanolone may be useful in improving several symptoms that can severely affect the quality of life of the patients,” said Anders Karlsson, CEO of Umecrine Cognition.
Umecrine Cognition’s drug candidate golexanolone is currently in clinical development for primary biliary cholangitis and hepatic encephalopathy, two indications involving pathogenic accumulation of toxic metabolites, proposedly resulting in neuroinflammation and disturbed neural signaling.
Abstract title: Golexanolone, a GABAA receptor-modulating steroid antagonist, improves fatigue, anxiety, depression, and some cognitive and motor alterations in a rat model of Parkinson’s disease.
For further information, please contact:
Anders Karlsson, CEO, Umecrine Cognition AB
Phone: +46 70 918 00 10
E-mail: [email protected]
About Umecrine Cognition AB
Umecrine Cognition AB develops a completely new class of pharmaceuticals against neurological disturbances in the brain that may arise as a consequence of several underlying diseases, leading to strongly reduced cognitive functions and wakefulness. Results from an internationally recognized clinical Phase 2 study indicate that the company’s most advanced drug candidate, golexanolone, normalizes the brain’s signaling and improves cognition as well as wakefulness in patients diagnosed with hepatic encephalopathy. The continued drug development will initially focus on patient groups whose symptoms arise from chronic liver diseases. The mode of action is however relevant in a number of other indications some of which are now being investigated. For more information, visit www.umecrinecognition.com.