Benzinga | Aug 25, 2021 08:04AM EDT

Cortexyme Highlights Presentation Of Data Demonstrating Evidence Of P. Gingivalis Infection At Annual Biomarkers For Alzheimer's Disease Summit

GAIN Trial analysis of anti-P. gingivalis antibodies in cerebrospinal fluid supports upstream role of pathogenic bacterium in key Alzheimer's pathologies

Cortexyme, Inc. (NASDAQ:CRTX), a company advancing a pivotal trial in Alzheimer's disease with top-line data expected by mid-November 2021 and a growing pipeline of therapeutics for degenerative diseases, announced the presentation of new data demonstrating evidence of P. gingivalis infection of the central nervous system in Alzheimer's disease at the Annual Biomarkers for Alzheimer's Disease Summit taking place virtually on Wednesday, August 25, 2021, at 2:10 p.m. ET followed by a live Q&A at 3:40 p.m. ET.

In a featured speaker presentation titled "Use of Novel Biomarkers of P. Gingivalis Infection & Neuroinflammation in the GAIN Trial: An Ongoing Phase 2/3 Clinical Trial Assessing the Activity of Atuzaginstat in Patients with Mild to Moderate Alzheimer's Disease," Cortexyme's Executive Vice President of Research and Development Leslie Holsinger, Ph.D., will present an analysis of anti-P. gingivalis antibodies in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) with results demonstrating that:

* All patients analyzed at baseline in the GAIN Trial (472 out of 472 baseline CSF samples available) were positive for anti-P. gingivalis antibodies (IgG) in their cerebrospinal fluid;

* Less than 2% of patients analyzed had a leaky blood brain barrier, as defined by an albumin index greater than 9; and

* Anti-P. gingivalis IgG in the CSF was only very weakly correlated to the albumin index (r=0.22), indicating production in the central nervous system in addition to that shown previously in serum.

These data add to the growing body of evidence indicating the presence of a P. gingivalis infection within the central nervous system in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Cortexyme will also present other novel biomarkers developed to track markers of P. gingivalis and Alzheimer's disease, in addition to highlighting the upstream role that P. gingivalis plays in key pathologies of Alzheimer's disease progression. The complete presentation will be available here.