Alzheimer's Disease Program
Our » Alzheimer's Disease (AD) program is partnered with Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical and Johnson & Johnson PRD. Together we are developing clinical candidates for the treatment of this devastating disease. Our focus is directed towards preventing the formation of toxic amyloid species in the brain, responsible for the development of the disease in Alzheimer's patients. We have mapped the protein interaction network underlying the entire Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) processing pathway. From the pathway map we have identified novel drug target candidates which have been shown to modulate amyloid peptide production.
Our Drug Discovery group has designed lead compounds which modulate γ-secretase, a key enzyme in APP processing. Modulation of the enzyme leads to reduction of toxic amyloid species in the brain, while avoiding the potential side effects resulting from the net inhibition of γ-secretase. Alongside lead optimization, we are using » chemical proteomics to profile leads against the proteome of the brain to confirm their mode-of-action and to assess potential off-target liabilities.