BOULDER, Colo., February 17, 2011 – The University of Colorado and AmideBio, LLC have completed an agreement giving AmideBio exclusive rights to commercialize drug candidates for Alzheimer’s disease discovered at CU’s Boulder campus.
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in the U.S., and the fifth-leading cause of death for those aged 65 and older. An estimated 5.3 million Americans of all ages have AD.1 The disease typically begins with gradual memory loss; people with advanced AD are often unable to perform basic activities such as dressing and eating without assistance. In the final stages, patients are unable to communicate or recognize family members, and require constant care. The disease is ultimately fatal, often by causing pneumonia.
Current treatments address the symptoms of AD, but do not target the underlying disease. A CU research group led by Michael Stowell, Ph.D. (an associate professor of molecular, cellular and developmental biology) has recently discovered a novel molecular target that is disrupted and degraded very early in the disease; the team believes that strategies to prevent the disruption and degradation of this target could prove critical in effectively treating the disease at an early stage. Stowell’s group is currently pursuing a new class of drugs that will prevent the disruption and degradation of this target and hopes to begin testing efficacy in the coming year.
“We are happy to execute this second licensing agreement with CU,”’ said Dr. Misha Plam, AmideBio's President and CEO. “The novel approach to treating Alzheimer’s disease discovered by Dr. Stowell’s group has great potential, and we are proud to become part of the community working to understand this disease and searching for its cure.”
AmideBio has also licensed a method developed by Stowell for manufacturing recombinant proteins and peptides (molecules which are similar to proteins but smaller); AmideBio and CU have an ongoing research collaboration in this area. “We are excited about the prospects for AmideBio,” said Tom Smerdon, Director of Licensing and New Business Development at CU’s Technology Transfer Office. “The company combines a top scientific mind and an accomplished entrepreneur, two important ingredients for success.”
1. 2010 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures. Alzheimer’s Association, 2010.
About AmideBio:
AmideBio based in Boulder, CO is a biotechnology company focused on providing recombinant peptide research and clinical products for a diverse array of disease research and disease targets. AmideBio maintains a proprietary platform vector technology that addresses the challenges of historically difficult to manufacture peptides by providing products that are reliable (BioPure™), economical and incorporate environmentally sustainable practices. For more information, please visit www.amidebio.com.
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