Attralus Shares New Data on Pan-Amyloid Therapeutics at ISA Symposium

Attralus, Inc., a biopharmaceutical firm based in Burlingame, California, is making strides in the treatment and diagnosis of systemic amyloidosis. The company recently presented significant findings at the XIX International Symposium on Amyloidosis (ISA) in Rochester, MN, showcasing the potential of their lead therapeutic and diagnostic candidates, AT-02 and AT-01.

AT-02, Attralus' flagship pan-amyloid removal therapeutic candidate, is undergoing a Phase 1 trial and a Phase 2 open-label extension trial in patients with transthyretin-related (ATTR) and light-chain (AL) amyloidosis. Preclinical studies demonstrated AT-02’s ability to bind to amyloid deposits in mouse models within one day of injection, with the binding persisting for at least ten days. This rapid and sustained binding is crucial for its role as an immunotherapy targeting systemic amyloidosis. AT-02 is designed to bind to multiple types of amyloid deposits and enhance their removal by the immune system, thus addressing the need for therapies that not only prevent new amyloid formation but also eliminate existing toxic deposits.

Another promising candidate is AT-01, the first pan-amyloid diagnostic imaging agent, which has shown high sensitivity and specificity in detecting cardiac amyloid. Clinical data indicate that AT-01 uptake in cardiac tissue is strongly associated with various measures of cardiac structure, function, and biomarkers, making it a valuable tool for diagnosing and monitoring amyloidosis. Moreover, AT-05, another diagnostic agent, demonstrated selective cardiac uptake in ATTR and AL patients but not in healthy individuals.

The symposium featured 16 presentations related to Attralus' pan-amyloid pipeline, including three oral and 13 poster sessions. Among the key highlights, Dr. Ahmad Masri emphasized the challenging and lengthy process of diagnosing systemic amyloidosis, often resulting in delayed treatment. AT-01 was shown to provide comprehensive imaging that could detect amyloid deposits across multiple organs, potentially facilitating earlier diagnosis and intervention.

Another notable presentation by Dr. Jonathan Wall unveiled preclinical data for AT-02, illustrating its rapid binding and persistence in amyloid deposits in the liver, spleen, and heart. The study highlighted AT-02’s ability to enhance macrophage-mediated phagocytosis of amyloid deposits, offering a promising approach to modifying the disease by removing existing amyloid fibrils.

The event also included presentations on AT-05 and AT-06. AT-05, labeled with technetium-99m, is intended for use with single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to provide more accessible screening and diagnosis options. AT-06 represents an innovative therapeutic approach by incorporating the pan-amyloid binding peptide into a chimeric antigen receptor macrophage (CAR-M) therapy, aiming to leverage the immune system for amyloid removal.

Attralus’ pipeline targets systemic amyloidosis, a group of rare diseases characterized by toxic amyloid deposits resulting from protein misfolding. These diseases are often underdiagnosed due to nonspecific symptoms and lack of dedicated diagnostics. Systemic amyloidosis encompasses approximately 17 different types, affecting over 500,000 patients across the US, EU, and Japan, with ATTR and AL amyloidosis being the most prevalent.

Existing treatments mainly focus on slowing disease progression by targeting precursor proteins. However, there is a significant unmet need for therapies that can actively remove existing amyloid deposits, improve organ function, and enhance patient quality of life. Attralus aims to fill this gap with its innovative PAR therapeutics and diagnostic agents, which are designed to bind to and eliminate amyloid deposits in systemic amyloidosis patients.

Attralus' ongoing research and clinical trials are essential steps toward developing comprehensive treatments for systemic amyloidosis, potentially transforming patient outcomes by directly addressing the underlying pathology of these debilitating diseases.