GlobeNewswire Inc | Nov 10, 2021 11:00AM EST

November 10, 2021

Study results demonstrate first small molecule approach to significantly reduce phosphorylated and aggregated -synuclein and increase GCase protein levelswith transport to the lysosomes in iPSC dopaminergic neurons

Results presented at Michael J. Fox Foundations Therapeutic Development Webinar

BETHESDA, Md, Nov. 10, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gain Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: GANX) (Gain, or the Company), a biotechnology company directly addressing the urgent need for effective neurodegenerative therapies, today announced data from the Companys study conducted at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM). The study, evaluating two lead Structurally Targeted Allosteric Regulators (STARs) compounds GT-02287 and GT-02329 for the treatment of Gaucher and GBA1 Parkinsons Disease, demonstrated highly statistically significant effects on all tested phenotypes representing a key breakthrough in the potential to treat neurodegenerative disorders characterized by misfolded proteins including Parkinsons Disease, Alzheimers, Gauchers Disease and Lewy Body Dementia. Study results were presented at The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinsons Researchs Innovating from Drug Discover to the Clinic: Novel Approaches to PD Therapeutic Development webinar.

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 Gaucher and GBA-associated Parkinsons Disease to test the efficacy of the two lead STAR chaperones developed by Gain Therapeutics. Our studies in iPSC-derived cortical and dopaminergic neurons from neuronopathic Gaucher Disease patients show that these compounds significantly increase the levels of GCase protein, its transport to the lysosome, and its enzymatic activity. In dopaminergic neurons, the two lead STAR chaperones also decrease the levels of the hallmark of Parkinsons Disease - -synuclein-p129, demonstrating their potential to treat GBA1-associated Parkinsons Disease.

This breakthrough in the ability to restore enzyme function for Parkinsons Disease and Gauchers Disease is unprecedented for a small molecule and will contribute to a major shift in how we think about treating various neurodegenerative and lysosomal storage diseases with a genetic predisposition, commented Gain CEO, Eric I. Richman. This brings tremendous hope to the population of individuals who are diagnosed with various forms of alpha synucleinopathies including those with Parkinsons Disease, Alzheimers, Lewy Body Dementia, and all forms of Gauchers Disease. We anticipate initiating IND-enabling studies for Gaucher and Parkinsons Disease shortly.

Through its proprietary SEE-Tx platform, Gain has identified two lead STAR candidates (GT-02287 and GT-02329) which have the ability to restore enzyme function of GCase an enzyme involved in various neurodegenerative diseases. The compounds characterized in various assays and showed the potential to halt the progression in Parkinsons patients with GBA1 gene mutations as well as patients whose glucocerebrosidase (GCase) protein is misfolded due to ageing cellular processes. This previous work was supported through grants from The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) and the Silverstein Foundation for Parkinsons with GBA.

The study conducted in collaboration with Ricardo A. Feldman, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at UMSOM and lead investigator, is using human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) for Gaucher and Parkinsons Disease modeling and drug discovery. Gains candidate molecules GT-02287 and GT-02329 have been initially assessed in this unique "disease-in-a-dish" iPSC model derived from Gaucher type 2 and 3 patient cells.

The data generated from the collaboration with University of Maryland School of Medicine in the iPSC models for GBA-associated Parkinsons Disease and Gaucher Disease showed the following results:

Gaucher Type III dopaminergic neurons

-- GT-02329 and GT-02287 increased GCase enzyme levels by 129% (p 0.001) and 118% (p 0.001) respectively in Gaucher type III dopaminergic neurons when compared with untreated cells. -- GT-02329 and GT-02287 demonstrated an increase in GCase and lysosome co-localisation (p 0.05) in Gaucher Type III dopaminergic neurons when compared with untreated cells. -- GT-02287 showed a marked decrease in phosphorylated -synuclein-p129 of 41% (p 0.0001) and a reduction in aggregated -synuclein-p129 of 47% (p 0.01) in Gaucher Type III dopaminergic neurons when compared with untreated cells.

Gaucher Type II dopaminergic neurons: phospho- -synuclein and aggregated synuclein

-- GT-02287 reduced phosphorylated -synuclein-p129 by of 39% at 20M vs non-treated (Stat. significant: p 0.001) -- GT-02287: Reduction of aggregated -synuclein-p129 by 64% 20M vs non-treated (Stat. significant: p 0.0001)

Gaucher Type III cortical neurons: GlcCer

-- GT-02329 and GT-02287 reduced the amount of the toxic substrate Glucosylceramide (GlcCer) by 42.9% (p 0.05) and by 50.2% ((p 0.01) respectively when compared with untreated cells.

Gaucher Type II dopaminergic neurons

-- GT-02329 and GT-02287 also demonstrated increased co-localisation of GCase and lysosomes (p 0.05) and (p 0.0001) when compared with untreated cells.

We appreciate the close collaboration with Dr. Feldman and the University of Maryland School of Medicine in this important area of research. This data demonstrates that our STARs are able to guide misfolded forms of the GCase enzyme to their proper shape and restore enzymatic activity, establishing an important novel approach for direct treatment of GBA1 Parkinsons Disease and other alpha-synucleinopathies, said Manolo Bellotto, Ph.D., General Manager at Gain. This is a further validation of our platform technology and a promising potential therapeutic opportunity for patients suffering from these debilitating diseases.

The combined data from Gain Therapeutics and Dr. Feldmans laboratory suggest that STARs bind to novel allosteric binding sites identified using Gains proprietary SEE-Tx drug discovery platform, and stabilize and restore the function of misfolded GCase. In these studies, the restoration of GCase function resulted in the depletion of the toxic phosphorylated and aggregated forms of -synuclein and a reversal of the neurodegenerative process resulting in improved locomotor activity in Parkinsons Disease model in rats. Given that STARs are small molecule therapies, they have significant advantages over the current standard of care for disorders associated with protein misfolding, including most enzyme replacement therapies and gene therapies. They can be administered as a simple oral pill and can reach organs and tissues not typically accessible through current therapeutic options, including the brain, bone and cartilage. In addition, the Company believes that STARs are relatively easy and cost-effective to manufacture.

We are encouraged by these study results of impact on underlying Parkinsons pathology, a key step toward clinical testing and continued development, said Marco Baptista, PhD, MJFF Vice President of Research Programs. The greatest unmet need of people with Parkinsons remains a treatment to slow or stop disease progression. We are proud to work with innovative companies such as Gain Therapeutics that are driving toward that goal.

About Gain Therapeutics, Inc. Gain Therapeutics, Inc. is positioned at the confluence of technology and healthcare and focused on redefining drug discovery with its SEE-Tx target identification platform. By identifying and optimizing allosteric binding sites that have never before been targeted, Gain is unlocking new treatment options for difficult-to-treat disorders characterized by protein misfolding. Gain was established in 2017 with the support of its founders and institutional investors. It has been awarded funding support from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinsons Research (MJFF) and The Silverstein Foundation for Parkinsons with GBA, as well as from the Eurostars-2 joint program with co-funding from the European Union Horizon 2020 research and Innosuisse.

For more information, please visit https://www.gaintherapeutics.com

About the University of Maryland School of MedicineNow in its third century, the University of Maryland School of Medicine was chartered in 1807 as the first public medical school in the United States.It continues today as one of the fastest growing, top-tier biomedical research enterprises in the world -- with 46 academic departments, centers, institutes, and programs, and a faculty of more than 3,000 physicians, scientists, and allied health professionals, including members of the National Academy of Medicineand the National Academy of Sciences, and a distinguished two-time winner of the Albert E. Lasker Award in Medical Research.With an operating budget of more than $1.2 billion, the School of Medicine works closely in partnership with the University of Maryland Medical Center and Medical System to provide research-intensive, academic and clinically based care for nearly 2 million patients each year. The School of Medicine has nearly $600 million in extramural funding, with most of its academic departments highly ranked among all medical schools in the nation in research funding.As one of the seven professional schools that make up the University of Maryland, Baltimore campus, the School of Medicine has a total population of nearly 9,000 faculty and staff, including 2,500 student trainees, residents, and fellows. The combined School of Medicine and Medical System (University of Maryland Medicine) has an annual budget of over $6 billion and an economic impact of nearly $20 billion on the state and local community. The School of Medicine, which ranks as the 8thhighest among public medical schools in research productivity (according to the Association of American Medical Colleges profile) is an innovator in translational medicine, with 606 active patents and 52 start-up companies.In the latestU.S. News & World Reportranking of the Best Medical Schools, published in 2021, the UM School of Medicine is ranked#9among the 92 public medical schools in the U.S., and in the top 15 percent(#27)of all 192 public and private U.S. medical schools. The School of Medicine works locally, nationally, and globally, with research and treatment facilities in 36 countries around the world. Visitmedschool.umaryland.edu. To learn more about Dr. Feldmans research visit https://www.medschool.umaryland.edu/profiles/Feldman-Ricardo/

About The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's ResearchAs the world's largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson's research, The Michael J. Fox Foundation is dedicated to accelerating a cure for Parkinson's disease and improved therapies for those living with the condition today. The Foundation pursues its goals through an aggressively funded, highly targeted research program coupled with active global engagement of scientists, Parkinson's patients, business leaders, clinical trial participants, donors and volunteers. In addition to funding$1.5 billionin research to date, the Foundation has fundamentally altered the trajectory of progress toward a cure. Operating at the hub of worldwide Parkinson's research, the Foundation forges groundbreaking collaborations with industry leaders, academic scientists and government research funders; increases the flow of participants into Parkinson's disease clinical trials with its online tool, Fox Trial Finder; promotes Parkinson's awareness through high-profile advocacy, events and outreach; and coordinates the grassroots involvement of thousands of Team Fox members around the world. For more information, visit us on at https://www.michaeljfox.org.

Forward-Looking StatementsAny statements in this release that are not historical facts may be considered to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on managements current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties which may cause results to differ materially and adversely from the statements contained herein. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the market opportunity for Gains product candidates, and the business strategies and development plans of Gain. Some of the potential risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expected include Gains ability to: make commercially available its products and technologies in a timely manner or at all; enter into strategic alliances, including arrangements for the development and distribution of its products; obtain intellectual property protection for its assets; accurately estimate and manage its expenses and cash burn and raise additional funds when necessary. Undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Except as required by law, Gain does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, events or circumstances after the date they are made, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Investor & Media Contacts:

Gain Therapeutics Investor Contact:Daniel FerryLifeSci Advisors+1 (617) 430-7576daniel@lifesciadvisors.com

Gain Therapeutics Media Contact:Joleen SchultzJoleen Schultz & Associates+1 (760) 271-8150joleen@joleenschultzassociates.com