Neuronal viability was preserved, resulting in improved spatial learning and memory
GAITHERSBURG, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Neuraly, a clinical stage biotechnology company pioneering disease-modifying agents for neurodegenerative disorders, today announced publication in the peer-reviewed journal Acta Neuropathologica Communications of preclinical data that contributed to the therapeutic rationale for clinical evaluation of NLY01 in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. The research was conducted in collaboration with Dr. Ted Dawson’s lab at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. The publication, entitled “Blocking microglial activation of reactive astrocytes is neuroprotective in models of Alzheimer’s disease” demonstrated that NLY01, an engineered exendin-4, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonist, can selectively block β-amyloid-induced activation of microglia through upregulated GLP-1R, inhibit formation of reactive astrocytes and preserve neuronal viability, resulting in improved spatial learning and memory. NLY01 is entering a Phase 2b trial in Alzheimer’s disease while currently being evaluated in a Phase 2 Parkinson’s disease trial.