Actinogen announces first patient treated in depression and cognitive impairment Phase 2 clinical trial

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Dec 14, 2022, 08:52 ET

Approximately 5% of Americans suffer from Major Depressive Disorder (MDD),^[1] which is commonly associated with "foggy thinking" but a new clinical trial raises hope that once-a-day oral drug Xanamem® may assist where treatment by anti-depressant medication alone is inadequate

SYDNEY, Dec. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Actinogen Medical Limited (ASX: ACW) is pleased to announce that the first patient has been randomized and treated in the XanaCIDD Phase 2 depression clinical trial that will measure the effects of Xanamem on safety, cognitive performance and depression in patients who are inadequately treated by their anti-depressant medication and have both depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment.

Dr Steven Gourlay, Actinogen's CEO and MD, said:

"We are very pleased to announce the formal start of our trial in patients with MDD and cognitive impairment who are inadequately treated by their current anti-depressant medication. There is a strong scientific rationale for reducing brain cortisol levels to improve symptoms in depression. Xanamem has already been proven to enhance cognition in three independent clinical trials with safety demonstrated in more than 300 patients and volunteers to date.

"Xanamem has the potential to be an effective low-dose daily oral therapy for the treatment of depression, Alzheimer's Disease and many other neurological conditions where it may be used alone or in combination with other treatments."

The XanaCIDD Phase 2 Depression trial is a six-week proof-of-concept, placebo-controlled, parallel group design trial in approximately 160 patients with persistent MDD and cognitive impairment despite a standard course of anti-depressant therapy. Xanamem 10 mg daily or placebo will be added to the existing anti-depressant therapy and effects on cognition, using the Cogstate Cognitive Test Battery, and depression, using the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale, will be assessed.

Trial results are expected in late 2023 or early 2024.

About Actinogen Medical

Actinogen Medical (ACW) is an ASX-listed, biotechnology company developing a novel therapy for neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases associated with dysregulated brain cortisol. There is a strong association between cortisol and detrimental changes in the brain, affecting cognitive function, harm to brain cells and long-term cognitive health.

Cognitive function means how a person understands, remembers and thinks clearly. Cognitive functions include memory, attention, reasoning, awareness and decision-making.

Actinogen is currently developing its lead compound, Xanamem,® as a promising new therapy for Alzheimer's Disease and Depression and hopes to study Fragile X Syndrome and other neurological and psychiatric diseases in the future. Reducing cortisol inside brain cells could have a positive impact in these and many other diseases. The cognitive dysfunction, behavioural abnormalities, and neuropsychological burden associated with these conditions is debilitating for patients, and there is a substantial unmet medical need for new and improved treatments.

About Xanamem

Xanamem's novel mechanism of action is to block the production of cortisol inside cells through the inhibition of the 11β-HSD1 enzyme in the brain. Xanamem is designed to get into the brain after it is absorbed in the intestines upon swallowing its capsule.

Chronically elevated cortisol is associated with cognitive decline in Alzheimer's Disease, and Xanamem has shown the ability to enhance cognition in healthy, older volunteers. Cognitive impairment is also a feature in Depression and many other diseases. Cortisol itself is also associated with depressive symptoms and when targeted via other mechanisms has shown some promise in prior clinical trials.

The Company has studied 11β-HSD1 inhibition by Xanamem in more than 300 volunteers and patients, so far finding a statistically significant improvement in working memory and attention, compared with placebo, in healthy, older volunteers in two consecutive trials and clinically significant improvements in patients with biomarker-positive mild AD. Previously, high levels of target engagement in the brain with doses as low as 5 mg daily have been demonstrated in a human PET imaging study. A series of Phase 2 studies in multiple diseases is being conducted to further confirm and characterize Xanamem's therapeutic potential.

Xanamem is an investigational product and is not approved for use outside of a clinical trial by the FDA or by any global regulatory authority. Xanamem^® is a trademark of Actinogen Medical.

Disclaimer

This announcement and attachments may contain certain "forward-looking statements" that are not historical facts; are based on subjective estimates, assumptions and qualifications; and relate to circumstances and events that have not taken place and may not take place. Such forward looking statements should be considered "at-risk statements" - not to be relied upon as they are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors (such as significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties / contingencies and regulatory and clinical development risks, future outcomes and uncertainties) that may lead to actual results being materially different from any forward looking statement or the performance expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements that speak only as of the date hereof. Actinogen Medical does not undertake any obligation to revise such statements to reflect events or any change in circumstances arising after the date hereof, or to reflect the occurrence of or non-occurrence of any future events. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Actinogen Medical does not make any guarantee, representation or warranty as to the likelihood of achievement or reasonableness of any forward-looking statements and there can be no assurance or guarantee that any forward-looking statements will be realised.

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^[1] Source: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/depression.htm

® Xanamem is a registered trademark of Actinogen Medical Limited

SOURCE Actinogen Medical Limited