Benzinga | Apr 21, 2021 09:25AM EDT

Alterity's Stock Is Trading Higher As ATH434 Preserves Neurons, Motor Performance In Animal Model With Neurodegenerative Disorder

* Alterity Therapeutics (NASDAQ: ATHE) has announced the presentation of expanded animal data to support the commercialization of its lead compound ATH434 in development to treat Parkinsonian disorders.

* Data were presented at the American Academy of Neurology virtual annual meeting.

* The data from an animal model of Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) independently confirm and extend previous findings demonstrating that ATH434 reduces ?-synuclein pathology, preserves neurons, and improves motor function.

* MSA is a rare neurodegenerative disorder characterized by autonomic dysfunction, tremors, slow movement, muscle rigidity, and postural instability.

* The new data indicate that ATH434 preserves neurons not only in the substantia nigra, a main area of pathology in Parkinson's disease but also in the striatum, a region of the brain that integrates information from the cortex and substantia nigra to achieve fine motor control.

* The study also showed that ATH434 led to reductions in glial cell inclusions, comprised of aggregated ?-synuclein, and levels of the toxic form of ?-synuclein, both of which are pathological features of MSA.

* Price Action: ATHE shares are up 22.4% at $1.53 in premarket trading on the last check Wednesday.