CURING APOE4 ASSOCIATED NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASES, INCLUDING ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE BY TARGETING THE ABCA1 TRANSPORTER
Artery Therapeutics, Inc. (Artery), a biotechnology company headquartered in the San Francisco Bay area, develops proprietary therapeutics for mainly neurodegenerative diseases including apolipoprotein E (ApoE4) associated dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Artery¹s novel peptide library is derived from ApoE. Our safe and effective peptides are designed to manipulate the ABCA1 (ATP-binding cassette) transporter, thereby altering cell membrane composition and functionality of monocyte-macrophage cells including glial cells in the brain. CS6253, the clinical candidate for neurodegenerative diseases, shows favorable safety profile and pharmacokinetics in IND-enabling studies and human studies are ongoing in subjects with and without the risk factor APOE4 sponsored in part by NIH-NIA and Alzheimer’s Association Part the Cloud.
ABCA1, A NOVEL, DIFFERENTIATED AND PROMISING TARGET
The ABCA1 transporter was discovered in 1999; the six trans-membrane ABCs transport lipids, ions, and drugs across extra- and intracellular membranes, affecting signal transduction, endo- and exocytosis, and vesicular trafficking with effects on several disease states.
Neurodegenerative Diseases
Alzheimer's Disease, Lewy Body Dementia, and Traumatic Brain Injury
ApoE4 is the strongest predictor of Alzheimer’s disease (AD); it is found in 60 percent of AD patients. Individuals with homozygous ApoE4 have a more than 20-fold increase in AD risk, and no treatment currently exists for ApoE4 AD. The lifetime risk of developing AD for those with homozygous ApoE4 is estimated to be 75 percent for women and 50 percent for men. The direct cost of AD to American society in 2015 was estimated to be more than $215 billion, and the cost is expected to grow to $1.2 trillion by 2050 (according to RAND, a nonprofit research organization).
ApoE4 AD is characterized by increase in P-tau and amyloidβ42, neuron-synapse loss in hippocampus region of the brain, and by cognitive decline. Artery has shown in multiple laboratory and mice models that manipulating ABCA1 functionality with our proprietary ABCA1 agonists has the potential to counteract ApoE4-driven AD with regard to both brain phenotype expression and cognition. The ability of our ABCA1 agonists to prevent ApoE4 AD in animals has been shown beyond doubt. Ongoing studies will tell if existing ApoE4 AD can indeed be reversed by Artery's medicines. This mechanism for counteracting ApoE4-driven pathogenesis also has potential in Lewy Body Dementia, and traumatic brain injury, and it may possibly apply to patients with other neurological diseases.
In human-ApoE4 target-replacement mice studies, Artery's Cogpep™ has been shown to:
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Prevent cognitive impairment
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Decrease tau hyperphosphorylation
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Decrease neuronal amyloidβ
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Increase (VGLUT1) and neurogenesis
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Increase ApoE receptor 2 (LRP8)
Artery has presented its scientific data in peer-review publications and as abstracts/poster at national and international meetings including Society for Neuroscience (SfN), Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC), Alzheimer’s Disease Parkinson’s Disease (AD/PD) and Clinical Trials for Alzheimer’s Disease (CtAD). Peer-reviewed publications are now in print.
Diabetes-generated Cardiovascular Disease
The primary functions of Artery's Dipep™ are to stabilize atherosclerosis plaque, reduce atherosclerosis, and act against diabetes; all of these properties are found in one molecule. Dipep can be self-administered conveniently once weekly via subcutaneous injection.
Diabetes is becoming an epidemic worldwide, and 80 percent of Type 2 diabetes mellitus patients die from heart disease, mainly ischemic cardiovascular disease. With exception of SGLT2 inhibitors which reduce congestive heart failure the current diabetes medicines have marginal, if any, effects in preventing ischemic cardiovascular disease leaving a huge unmet medical need. Approximately 15 percent of diabetes mellitus patients suffer a second heart disease event within 12 month of the first event. According to American Diabetes Association the direct medical cost of treating diabetes mellitus exceed $175 billion per year in the US.
Multiple mice models show that Dipep:
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Reduces atherosclerosis
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Improves glucose tolerance
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Increases insulin secreting and improves insulin sensitivity
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Is weight neutral
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Preserves pancreas β-cell
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Has quick onset of action
Jan O. Johansson, MD, PhD
President & CEO
He is a serial Biotech entrepreneur and has as founder and/or corporate officer helped take 3 companies’ public and raised more than $500M in private and public markets. Jan is trained as a basic scientist, practiced cardiovascular medicine for 18 years and has translational and development background with particular reference to neurodegenerative and cardiovascular therapeutics.
In the CVD and CNS space, Dr. Johansson has compiled and led basic research groups and clinical phase 1-3 programs; he was also responsible for an NDA/product registration (Omacor/Lovaza), the first Omega-3 pharmaceutical grade product. He has published more than 75 peer-reviewed articles, more than 100 abstracts, and is the inventor of more than 30 patents. Jan enjoys long bike rides and cross country skiing.
A FAMILY COMPANY
Jonas Johansson
Business Officer
Jan's oldest son, Jonas is co-founder and business officer of Artery. He has a BA in Business Administration and a Masters certificate in Finance. Prior to joining Artery in 2004, he held an accounting position at Integrated Science Solutions, Inc. When Jonas is not working he enjoys spending time with his family and participating in recreational activities such as hiking and downhill skiing.
Johannes Johansson
Operations Officer
The younger of Jan's two sons, Johannes is an Artery co-founder and its operations officer. He graduated from UC San Diego with a BA in Economics and maintains PMP (Project Management Professional Certification). Johannes is an avid golfer and enjoys traveling.
Board of Directors
Jan O. Johansson, MD, PhD
Rich M. Collins, EMBA
Collins was previously CFO and CEO of SBC Pacific Bell subsidiaries.
WORLD-RENOWNED ADVISORS
Scientific Advisory Board
Artery's scientific advisory board consist of experts in the areas of peptide chemistry, neurology, biomarkers, and clinical-trial development.
Neuro Advisory Board
Bengt Winblad – MD, PhD. Translational and clinical AD expert, Karolinska Institute
Danny Michaelson – PhD. Neurology Research, Tel Aviv University
Henrik Zetterberg – MD, PhD. CSF and plasma biomarkers, University of Gothenburg
Hussein Yassine – MD. Brain lipid metabolism and Alzheimer’s disease, University of Southern California
Jeffrey Cummings – MD, ScD. Clinical trial design, analysis and implementation expert
Metabolic Advisory Board
Anders G Olsson – MD, PhD. Clinical trialist and lipoprotein expert, Stockholm Heart Center
Greg Schwartz – MD, PhD. Clinical trialist and diabetes researcher, VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System
Hans Jornvall – MD, PhD. Peptide chemist, Karolinska Institute: former member of the Nobel Assembly