Benzinga | Oct 29, 2020 07:08AM EDT

Annovis Bio Resumes Treatment Of Patients In Ongoing Phase 2a Study In Alzheimer's Disease

BERWYN, Pa., Oct. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Annovis Bio Inc. (NYSE:ANVS), a clinical-stage drug platform company addressing Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD) and other neurodegenerative diseases, today announced it resumed treatment of patients in its Phase 2a clinical trial in early AD patients following the suspension of the trial in March 2020 due to COVID-19.

The Phase 2a trial, conducted in conjunction with the Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study (ADCS), is a one-month study in 24 AD patients treated with ANVS401, the Company's lead compound, that measures levels of neurotoxic proteins, neurotransmitters, neurotrophic factors, inflammation, and nerve cell death, as well as cognitive improvement. The study is being conducted in six sites in the U.S., including the University of California San Diego, Johns Hopkins, Indiana University, Washington University, Cleveland Clinic, and Columbia University. 15 patients have now been enrolled and treated in this trial. Data from this trial is expected in 2021.

"We are excited to treat patients again in our Phase 2a study in early AD," commented Maria Maccecchini, Ph.D., CEO of Annovis Bio. "ANVS401 is the only drug to improve axonal transport, the information highway of the nerve cell, by attacking multiple neurotoxic proteins simultaneously. By measuring target and pathway engagement in this trial and in our Phase 2a trial in AD and PD patients we expect to validate our approach as we plan to move into pivotal Phase 3 trials of ANVS401. While COVID-19 has delayed trials for most biopharma companies, including this trial, having a diverse mix of study sites should afford us the opportunity to maintain recruitment and treatment schedules moving forward," added Dr. Maccecchini.