Beyond the Failed Beta Amyloid Hypothesis -- Alzheimer's Experts to Discuss Need for New Medicines with Alternative Mechanisms of Action in Pre-CTAD Conference Webinar

BOULDER, Colo., Nov. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Several leading Alzheimer's disease experts will participate in a webinar hosted by Accera, Inc. at 11 a.m. EST on December 6 in advance of the 9th Annual International Conference on Clinical Trials for Alzheimer's Disease (CTAD). The program will include discussions on the role of metabolism in Alzheimer's disease and therapeutic targets that address deficient glucose metabolism observed in Alzheimer's disease patients.

"Following the recent failure of another therapy targeting the amyloid hypothesis, now more than ever we need to focus on alternative mechanisms to address Alzheimer's disease," said Michael Gold, M.D., Accera's senior medical advisor and the moderator of the webinar. "As the Alzheimer's community prepares to gather for CTAD, we want to provide perspectives from researchers leading the way to address the fundamental metabolic defect in Alzheimer's patients."

Dr. Gold will moderate a discussion following presentations by:

• Russell Swerdlow, M.D., Gene and Marge Sweeney Professor of Neurology, University of Kansas

Dr. Swerdlow will present information about the history of the metabolic hypothesis and the role of mitochondrial defects in Alzheimer's disease. He is the Director of the University of Kansas Alzheimer's Disease Center and the KUMC Neurodegenerative Disorders Program. Dr. Swerdlow is a Professor in the Departments of Neurology, Molecular and Integrative Physiology, and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. After receiving his undergraduate and doctor of medicine degrees from New York University, he trained as a neurologist and cognitive disorders subspecialist at the University of Virginia. Dr. Swerdlow sees patients at the University of Kansas Memory Disorders Clinic and is a laboratory-based neuroscientist who is internationally known for his work on mitochondrial dysfunction in neurodegenerative diseases.

• Eugenia Trushina, Ph.D., Associate Professor in the Departments of Neurology and Pharmacology, Mayo Clinic

Dr. Trushina will present information on emerging mitochondria-targeted therapeutics. Her laboratory is focused on mitochondrial dysfunction caused by environmental toxins, chemotherapy drugs and genetic factors in multiple neurodegenerative disorders, including Huntington's disease and Alzheimer's disease, aging, and chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. Her research interests involve identification of the molecular mechanisms involved in the inhibition of mitochondrial dynamics and function in neurons. Dr. Trushina's current projects include the development of a panel of the biomarkers associated with mitochondrial dysfunction involved in neurodegeneration and testing novel mitochondria-targeted therapeutic approaches that could potentially reverse neurodegeneration and aging. Dr. Trushina has a Ph.D. from Saratov State University in Russia and conducted postdoctoral studies at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine. Dr. Trushina's research has been funded by the Mayo Clinic Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, the American Health Assistance Foundation, the Alzheimer Drug Discovery Foundation and the National Institutes of Health.

Accera's lead product candidate, AC-1204, addresses the issue of deficient glucose metabolism in Alzheimer's disease by inducing a mild form of ketosis by generating ketones for use in neurons. These ketones have the potential to restore the supply of energy, improving neuronal metabolism and in turn cognition and function in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. AC-1204 is currently being evaluated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 3 study called NOURISH AD. Results from this study are expected in the coming months.

Webinar Information

Participants can register in advance and access the webinar by clicking the following link: https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/1588/18619. Participants are encouraged to log on within 15 minutes prior to the beginning of the webinar. Following the event, a replay will be available at the same link and on the Accera website.

About Accera

Accera, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company based in Boulder, Colo., that is developing therapies for central nervous system disorders. The company's proprietary scientific platform addresses unmet medical needs in brain health, including Alzheimer's disease. Accera is focused on the clinical development of drugs with innovative mechanisms of actions. The company's management team includes globally recognized specialists in central nervous system diseases and drug development, who together leverage the latest scientific knowledge and understanding of neurological disorders. Accera's lead product candidate is AC-1204, a ketosis-inducing compound in a Phase 3 clinical study in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. For more information, visit www.accerapharma.com.

Follow Accera on Twitter at twitter.com/accerainc.

Accera Media Contacts:                                                     

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Todd Davenport, Ph.D.
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Rich Allan                                                                  
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SOURCE Accera, Inc.

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