Tag: PDE

Company News: biocrea’s First-in-class PDE2 Inhibitor Demonstrates Strong Potential For The Treatment Of Cognitive Disorders

– Data on novel PDE2 inhibitor BCA909 presented at 24th ECNP Congress in Paris –

biocrea, a biopharmaceutical company focusing on novel treatments for disorders of the central nervous system (CNS), today announced data on its innovative CNS-penetrating PDE2 inhibitor. The compound, which is code-named BCA909, was selected as a candidate for preclinical development  earlier this year. It demonstrates strong potential for the treatment of diseases in which normal learning and memory is impaired, e.g. mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease and schizophrenia. Details on the compound were presented at the 24th ECNP Congress of the European College of Neuropharmacology in Paris, France (Sept. 3-7, 2011).

To date, few PDE2 inhibitors have been pharmacologically characterized. While initial findings have been encouraging, suggesting pro-cognitive and anxiolytic efficacy, the compounds did not enter the brain in sufficient quantities. With BCA909, biocrea has developed a novel, potent and selective PDE2 inhibitor with excellent CNS penetration and an efficacy and safety profile suitable for further development for multiple disease indications.

During the ECNP congress, biocrea presented data from extensive preclinical studies in vitro and in animal models of learning and memory. The key findings demonstrate that BCA909 delivers significant pro-cognitive activity in models of cognitive impairment resulting from either disruption of cholinergic or glutamatergic neurotransmission. Furthermore, BCA909 does not induce tolerance, indicating that maintained pro-cognitive efficacy, achieved through modulation of multiple neurotransmitter systems, can be delivered by the novel PDE2 mechanism of action.

Preclinical development of BCA909 is ongoing.

Company News: biocrea Announces Novel Treatment Opportunities for CNS Diseases

– Company has filed US patent on novel, brain-penetrating PDE2 and PDE10 inhibitors –

CNS company biocrea today announced it has filed a patent application covering its brain-penetrating inhibitors of phosphodiesterases. These compounds constitute a new generation of promising drug candidates to address several CNS disorders that are currently lacking effective treatment options. biocrea has submitted a patent application to the U.S. Patent Office (USPTO) covering compounds and uses of its proprietary PDE2 and PDE10 inhibitors.

While the inhibitors of PDE10 show excellent potential for the treatment of schizophrenia, Huntington’s disease and Tourette’s syndrome, the PDE2 inhibitors cover a whole spectrum of new biological activities and treatment opportunities. Moreover, biocrea’s brain-penetrating PDE2 inhibitors show promise for the treatment of drug-induced movement disorders.

biocrea’s patent application also comprises dual inhibitors of PDE2 and PDE10 as the combination of both modes of action in one molecule results in synergistic biological effects.

So far, validating the benefit of brain PDE inhibitors in CNS diseases has been difficult because access to brain PDEs is limited by the so-called “blood brain barrier” (BBB). The team of biocrea has overcome these limitations and developed brain-penetrating, highly specific PDE inhibitors that constitute a new generation of promising drug candidates for the treatment of CNS disorders. The most advanced compound of biocrea’s novel family of PDE inhibitors, a brain-penetrating, selective PDE2 inhibitor, has been selected to enter pre-clinical development.

Company News: biocrea expands management team

The German biotech company biocrea GmbH today announced the expansion of its management team by appointing Martin Gunthorpe (formerly GlaxoSmithKline, GSK) as Chief Scientific Officer, Viktor Viehweg (formerly Sibur Ltd.) to the position of Chief Financial Officer, and Simon Ward (formerly GSK) to Executive Vice President Chemistry & Development.

biocrea was established in November 2010 following a management buy-out from Biotie Therapies Corp. (HSE: BTH1V; Turku, Finland). In the transaction, biocrea acquired the CNS pipeline and a cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitor platform from Biotie. biocrea’s team has a long-standing, exceptional track record in the development of CNS therapeutics, e.g. the development of a PDE10 inhibitor portfolio for the treatment of schizophrenia in collaboration with Wyeth Pharmaceuticals and Pfizer, which acquired Wyeth in 2009. The company plans to expand its pipeline and to obtain attractive assets in order to build a more mature portfolio. Already, it is in advanced negotiations with several pharma partners, such as GSK.

biocrea’s management will attend the J.P. Morgan 29th Annual Healthcare Conference 2011, San Francisco, January 10-13, 2011. If you wish to make an appointment, please contact akampion via info@akampion.com.

Company News: biocrea acquires CNS pipeline and PDE inhibitor platform from Biotie

In a management-buyout, biocrea GmbH is taking over  the CNS pipeline and phosphodiesterase enzyme (PDE) inhibitor platform from Finnish Biotie Therapies Corp.

The company currently has a pipeline of three PDE inhibitors at research and preclinical stages, which will be advanced into clinical development by 2012. The compounds have already demonstrated efficacy in preclinical animal models for schizophrenia, memory impairment, depression and anxiety.

biocrea is based in Radebeul near Dresden, Germany, and will be led by Dr. Tom Kronbach, former CSO of Biotie.

More details can be found soon at biocrea’s website.