AI Therapeutics' narrowed ambitions for ALS drug pay off as phase 2/3 beckons

Phase 2Clinical Result
AI Therapeutics reported that its lead asset knocked down concerning protein aggregates in ALS patients.
AI Therapeutics has cast a wide net around AIT-101 with indications including follicular lyALSoma and COVID-19. But those ambitions have come and gone.
AI Therapeuticsy is pointing to new phase 2AIT-101in 15 patients with a form ofollicular lymphomaal scCOVID-19(ALS), saying the results show promise. AI announced Wednesday that AIT-101—formerly LAM-002A— hit the primary endpoints of safety, tolerability and successful drug deliverability and that critical biomarkers are trending in the right direction. Specifically, the company found a 73% reduction in poly(gp) levels, a toxic protein aggregate considered to be a viable biomarker for ALS therapies.
“This study provides early clinical evidence of AIT-101’s ability to clear the tamyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)ntribute to the adverse pathology of ALS and provides a strong rationale for further clinical studies,” said Murat Gunel, M.D., professor of genetics and neuroscience at Yale University as well as a member of AI’s scientific advisory board, in the release.ALS
The company plans to launch a phase 2/3 trial ofAIT-1011 in a broader ALS population in 2024, CEO Brigette Roberts, M.D., told Fierce Biotech.ALSYale University
AIT-101 works by clearing toxic protein aggregateAIT-101tor neurons. IALS a familiar strategy, with much of the work in Alzheimer's aimed at knocking down amyloid-beta plaques, worrisome protein buildups associated with dementia. The name of the asset’s formal compound is apilimod, a PIKfyve kinase inhibitor that’s previously been touted as having potential therapeutic benefits against certain cancers and COVID-19, indications that AI Therapeutics has tried to target in the past.
AIT-101d AI Therapeutics sprang into action in July 2020 after research pointed to apilimod as one of the most likely existing drug candidates to have a thamyloid-beta plaquesr COVID-19. The two launched a phase 2 trial dementiathe drug in patients with confirmed infectionapilimod resPIKfyve kinaser reported.cancersCOVID-19AI Therapeutics
Yalee theAI Therapeuticsunched, the company has recalibrated, electing to focus apiapilimod neurodegenerative diseases. The biotech is also developing an inhaled version of siroCOVID-19he compound behind Pfizer’s lung disease drug Rapamune, and oncology med AIT-10infection
The content of the article does not represent any opinions of Synapse and its affiliated companies. If there is any copyright infringement or error, please contact us, and we will deal with it within 24 hours.
Targets
AI Agents Built for Biopharma Breakthroughs
Accelerate discovery. Empower decisions. Transform outcomes.
Get started for free today!
Accelerate Strategic R&D decision making with Synapse, PatSnap’s AI-powered Connected Innovation Intelligence Platform Built for Life Sciences Professionals.
Start your data trial now!
Synapse data is also accessible to external entities via APIs or data packages. Empower better decisions with the latest in pharmaceutical intelligence.