Full Press Release Details
New data independently confirms and extends
and expands safety profile of ATH434
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA AND SAN FRANCISCO,
USA - 4th August 2020: Alterity Therapeutics (ASX: ATH, NASDAQ: ATHE) ("Alterity" or "the Company")
today announced that new clinical and experimental pharmacology data for its lead drug candidate ATH434 (formerly PBT434) has been
selected for presentation at the 2020 International Congress of Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders (MDS 2020) and
the American Neurological Association's 2020 Annual Meeting (ANA 2020).
New animal data from the laboratory of
Dr. Nadia Stefanova, Professor of Translational Neurodegeneration Research at the Medical University of Innsbruck, will be presented
at ANA 2020. The new data, from an experiment testing ATH434 in an animal model of Multiple System Atrophy (MSA), independently
confirm and extend previous findings demonstrating that ATH434 reduces -synuclein pathology, preserves neurons, and improves
ATH434, which is an orally bioavailable,
brain penetrant, small molecule inhibitor of -synuclein aggregation, is being developed for the treatment of MSA, a Parkinsonian
disorder. Alpha-synuclein aggregation is implicated in the pathology of MSA and Parkinson's disease.
Professor Gregor Wenning, Chair of the
Division of Neurobiology at Medical University of Innsbruck and Co-Founding Director of the European MSA Study Group, said: "There
is a great need for new treatments of this devastating condition. The exceptional work from Dr. Stefanova's team demonstrates
the effectiveness of ATH434 in a disease-predictive animal model. I look forward to the continued progress of ATH434 into patient
Alterity will also present cardiac safety
data from its Phase 1 Study of ATH434, marking the first time such information will be shared with an international group of clinicians
and researchers in the field of neurological disorders. The new safety data, which focuses on evaluating electrical activity in
the heart as measured by the QT interval, reinforces previous safety findings from the Phase 1 clinical study - namely, that
ATH434 was generally well tolerated at all doses and had an adverse event profile comparable to placebo in adult and older adult
volunteers. The data to be presented indicates that there is no evidence of cardiac liability at clinically tested doses.
Alterity's Chief Medical Officer,
Dr David Stamler, said: "Drug-induced QT prolongation can pose a significant risk for patients, so a clean bill of health
on this safety measure is important as we advance to Phase 2. In searching for new treatments to modify disease progression, we
need to develop agents that are as safe as possible."
When paired with favorable pharmacokinetic
and safety data previously reported, the new animal and clinical data support the continued development of ATH434 for MSA. The
company announced last month that following discussion with the US Food and Drug Administration, it had established a development
pathway for ATH434 in MSA and is intending to pursue a global development strategy.
Due to global restrictions in the wake
of COVID-19, this year both conferences will be held in a virtual format with MDS 2020 being held 12-16th September,
and ANA 2020 to be held 4-9th October.
Authorization & Additional information
This announcement was authorized by Geoffrey Kempler, CEO and Chairman of Alterity Therapeutics Limited.
Rebecca Wilson, WE Communications
About Alterity Therapeutics Limited
Alterity's lead candidate,
ATH434 (formerly PBT434), is the first of a new generation of small molecules designed to inhibit the aggregation of pathological
proteins implicated in neurodegeneration. ATH434 has been shown to reduce abnormal accumulation of -synuclein and tau proteins
in animal models of disease by redistributing labile iron in the brain. In this way, it has potential to treat Parkinson's
disease and atypical forms of Parkinsonism such as Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) and Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP).
ATH434 has been granted Orphan
designation for the treatment of MSA by the US FDA and the European Commission.
For further information please visit the
Company's web site at www.alteritytherapeutics.com.
About Multiple System Atrophy
Multiple System Atrophy (MSA)
is a rare and rapidly progressive neurological disorder affecting adults. It has no known cause. In addition to presenting with
motor symptoms like those in Parkinson's disease, individuals with MSA may also experience loss of ability to coordinate
voluntary movements and impaired regulation of involuntary body functions such as blood pressure, bowel and bladder control. Most
of these symptoms are not addressed by available drugs for patients with Parkinson's disease. As the condition progresses,
daily activities become increasingly difficult and complications such as increased difficulty swallowing, vocal cord paralysis,
progressive immobility, and poor balance become more prominent. Symptoms tend to appear after age 50 and rapidly advance, leading
to profound disability.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and section 21E of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934. The Company has tried to identify such forward-looking statements by use of such words as "expects,"
"intends," "hopes," "anticipates," "believes," "could," "may," "evidences"
and "estimates," and other similar expressions, but these words are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements.
Important factors that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements are described in the sections
titled "Risk Factors" in the Company's filings with the SEC, including its most recent Annual Report on Form
20-F as well as reports on Form 6-K, including, but not limited to the following: statements relating to the Company's drug development
program, including, but not limited to the initiation, progress and outcomes of clinical trials of the Company's drug development
program, including, but not limited to, ATH434 (formerly PBT434), and any other statements that are not historical facts. Such
statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those risks and uncertainties relating to the difficulties
or delays in financing, development, testing, regulatory approval, production and marketing of the Company's drug components,
including, but not limited to, ATH434, uncertainties relating to the impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the
company's business, operations and employees, the ability of the Company to procure additional future sources of financing,
unexpected adverse side effects or inadequate therapeutic efficacy of the Company's drug compounds, including, but not limited
to, ATH434, that could slow or prevent products coming to market, the uncertainty of patent protection for the Company's intellectual
property or trade secrets, including, but not limited to, the intellectual property relating to ATH434.
Any forward-looking statement
made by us in this press release is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which
it is made. We undertake no obligation to publicly updated any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be
made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.