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Gain Therapeutics Presents Positive In Vitro & In Vivo Data on Its Orally Bioavailable Brain Penetrant Star Compounds for the Treatment of GBA1 Parkinson's Disease & Related a-synucleopathies at the XXVI IAPRD World CongressCompounds reverse the neurodegenerative process observed in a Parkinson’s disease in vivo model Compounds are novel allosteric regulators that bind, stabilize and restore activity of mutated GCase Compounds decrease both phosphorylated and aggregated a-synuclein levels in vitro and in vivo BETHESDA, Md., May 03, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gain Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: GANX) (“Gain”), a biotechnology company focused on redefining drug discovery by using super-computational methods to target allosteric binding sites and guide enzymes back to their proper shape, today announced new pre-clinical data from its GBA1 Parkinson’s disease program. The findings were highlighted in a presentation at the XXVI International Association of Parkinsonism and Related Disorders (IAPRD) World Congress, a research conference dedicated to Parkinson’s disease and other disorders affecting muscle tone and motor control, being held virtually May 1-4, 2021. “These data demonstrate that our Structurally Targeted Allosteric Regulators (STARs) compounds open a new potential approach for direct treatment of GBA1 Parkinson’s disease by guiding misfolded forms of the GCase enzyme to their proper shape and restoring enzymatic activity,” said Manolo Bellotto, Ph.D., General Manager and President at Gain. “STARs bind to novel allosteric binding sites identified using our proprietary Site-Directed Enzyme Enhancement Therapy (SEE-Tx™) drug discovery platform, stabilize and restore enzymatic activity to misfolded GCase. The restoration of GCase activity results in the depletion of the toxic phosphorylated and aggregated forms of a-synuclein and a reversal of the neurodegenerative process resulting in improved locomotor activity in a Parkinson’s disease model in rats. We will continue to further explore the potential of these compounds in Parkinson’s disease and a-synucleopathies.” Ricardo Feldman, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, stated, "Our laboratory is using human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) derived from patients with GD and GBA-associated Parkinson’s disease to test the efficacy of the two lead STAR chaperones developed by Gain Therapeutics. Our early studies in iPSC-derived neurons from neuronopathic GD patients show that both STAR compounds, GT-02287 and GT-02329 are very effective in meeting target goals. These include increasing the levels of GCase protein, its transport to the lysosome, and decreasing levels of pathogenic a-synuclein. As the work in our laboratory progresses, we look forward to working with Gain’s team to further advance its GBA program.” Eric I. Richman, Chief Executive Officer, added, “There have been many promising treatments for Parkinson’s disease that have not come to fruition. Through partnerships with the Michael J. Fox Foundation and the Silverstein Foundation for Parkinson with GBA, we identified two STAR lead candidates that have the potential to help Parkinson’s patients with GBA1 gene mutations as well as patients whose GCase protein is msfolded due to aging cellular processes. Our preclinical data demonstrates that our STAR compounds successfully target protein misfolding rather than treating symptoms of the disease, and we are honored our abstract is recognized as one of the top 10 best abstracts at IAPRD this year.” Key findings from the presentation are highlighted below. To access the presentation please visit the Publications section of the Gain website. Preclinical Development of Brain-Penetrant Structurally Targeted Allosteric Regulators (STARs) for the Treatment of GBA1 Parkinson’s Disease and Related a-Synucleopathies The presented results highlight data from preclinical cell cultures and rodent models, including rotenone models of Parkinson’s disease. STARs bound misfolded forms of GCase trapped in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and enhanced the processing from the ER to the lysosome. This improved lysosomal GCase activity restored normal lysosomal and autophagic activity and ultimately decreased a-synuclein levels.
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