Positive final Phase IIa safety results for Neurotrope's Alzheimer's drug

US orphan disease specialist Neurotrope (OTC: NTRP) saw its shares rise over 5% to $1.25 after it released secondary and exploratory endpoint results from its randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single dose Phase IIa clinical trial evaluating bryostatin-1 for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Bryostatin is a potent modulator of an enzyme called protein kinase C epsilon (PKCe). The company is approaching the treatment of Alzheimer's disease through the activation of PKCe. In animal models of Alzheimer's disease, activation of PKCe has been shown to improve learning and memory, induce synaptogenesis or growth of new synapses and prevent neurodegeneration.

Final analysis of this Phase IIa safety study, in nine Alzheimer's patients with mild dementia as measured by MMSE-2 scores, confirms the previously announced result. The study has met its primary endpoint demonstrating preliminary safety and tolerability of bryostatin. No safety signals have been identified.