Positive Xanamem biomarker trial published in Jnl Alz Dis
Released
Released
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ASX ANNOUNCEMENT
Positive Xanamem® phase 2a biomarker trial published in the Journal of
Alzheimer’s Disease demonstrating potential Xanamem efficacy in patients with
elevated blood pTau
Sydney, 26 June 2024. Actinogen Medical ASX:ACW (“ACW” or “the Company”) is pleased to announce
the peer-reviewed publication of its phase 2a biomarker trial entitled “Plasma pTau181 Predicts Clinical
Progression In A Phase 2 Randomized Controlled Trial of the 11β-HSD1 Inhibitor Xanamem for Mild
Alzheimer’s Disease” in the 100th edition of the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.
Highlights of the publication include:
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Participants comprised 72 patients from the previous XanADu phase 2a trial of mild Alzheimer’s disease
(AD) who had available stored plasma (blood) samples and gave informed consent for the new trial
Patients with elevated pTau181 had much more rapid progression than patients with lower levels in four
key clinical endpoints: ADCOMS (p<0.001), CDR-SB (p<0.001), MMSE (p=0.12) and ADAS-Cog14
(p=0.19) 1
In the 34 patients with elevated pTau181 a potentially large and clinically meaningful Xanamem treatment
effect compared to placebo was seen in the CDR-SB (LS 2 mean difference 0.6 units, p=0.09) and positive
trends were observed in a Neuropsychological Test Battery of cognition (LS mean difference 1.8 units,
p=NS).
Dr Dana Hilt, the Company's Chief Medical Officer said:
"To our knowledge Xanamem is the first drug of this class to have such compelling data. The previously
published PET study highlighted just how effective Xanamem is at reaching its target enzyme in the brain at
safe and well tolerated doses of 5 and 10 mg/day. No other inhibitor of 11β-HSD1 has ever demonstrated
robust central nervous system (CNS) target engagement in this direct way.
“This new peer-reviewed publication reports that Xanamem 10 mg potentially slows AD progression in patients
with high plasma pTau181. The other trends toward benefit on cognition are consistent with our two, prior
phase 1b studies in older healthy volunteers which showed improved attention and working memory.
“Further data on cognition are anticipated when the XanaCIDD trial of cognitive impairment and major
depressive disorder reports results next quarter. The XanaMIA phase 2b trial in 220 patients with mild to
moderate AD is on-going.”
Xanamem is a registered trademark of Actinogen Medical Limited
ADCOMS: Alzheimer’s Disease Composite Score; CDR-SB: Clinical Disease Rating Scale – Sum of Boxes; MMSE: Mini Mental State
Examination; ADAS-Cog14: Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale – Cognition version 14
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Least squares
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Actinogen Medical Limited ACN 086 778 476
Suite 901, Level 9, 109 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000
+61 2 8964 7401 | actinogen.com.au
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The original article can be accessed here.
Details of the trial, findings and implications
The biomarker trial was conducted as a stand-alone, prospective, double-blind trial using newly generated
plasma biomarker data and clinical data on file from the XanADu phase 2a trial in patients with a clinical
diagnosis of mild AD. The protocol and statistical analysis plan were pre-defined and data were analyzed in a
blinded manner. No trial or laboratory personnel knew the treatment assignment of the participants until the
final analysis results were generated.
The 72 participants in the trial had been treated with Xanamem 10mg or placebo once daily for 12 weeks. The
panel of biomarkers was analyzed by a leading laboratory in Sweden, the Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory,
University of Gothenburg, who were “blinded” to treatment assignment, and included pTau181, amyloid beta140 and -42, glial fibrillary acidic protein, and neurofilament light.
The placebo group had 34 participants with analyzable plasma pTau181 levels. Those with elevated pTau181
(n=18) showed more rapid clinical progression than patients with lower levels (n=16) in four key clinical
endpoints: ADCOMS (d=0.55, p<0.001), CDR-SB (d=0.63, p<0.001), MMSE (d=0.52, p=0.12) and ADASCog14 (d=0.53, p=0.19). 3
The Cohen’s d statistics (the effect of high/low pTau181 as a proportion of the baseline standard deviation)
were quite large and participants with low pTau generally did not worsen during the 12 week trial. This confirms
that the original XanADu trial population contained a high proportion of non-progressive patients, many of
whom may have had an alternative diagnosis to AD (there was no routine use of biomarker or imaging
confirmation of the diagnosis of AD at the time the trial was designed).
The results from this trial are consistent with emerging data from other trials and recently updated international
guidelines that consider elevated plasma pTau as a viable diagnostic option for AD. We believe plasma pTau
is particularly useful as an alternative or adjunct to amyloid PET brain scans for the selection of patients with
progressive disease in AD trials. The on-going XanaMIA phase 2b Alzheimer’s disease trial is using elevated
plasma pTau181 levels to select patients in whom a Xanamem treatment effect is more likely to be
demonstrable over the 36-week treatment period.
The primary evaluation of the efficacy of Xanamem was conducted in the high pTau181 group (n=34) who
were considered to have biomarker-confirmed AD. A large and potentially clinically meaningful Xanamem
treatment effect compared to placebo was seen in the CDR-SB (LS mean difference 0.6 units, d=0.41, p=0.09).
Positive trends were also seen in a Neuropsychological Test Battery of cognition (LS mean difference 1.8
units, d=0.26, p=NS) but not for other endpoints.
These results suggest that the potential cognitive enhancement and disease-slowing benefits of Xanamem
may be sensitively detected with the CDR-SB endpoint, which is an 18-point score that rates both functional
and cognitive abilities. Using the cognitive findings from this trial and prior trials showing benefit on attention
and working memory, a cognitive composite has been designed for use in future Xanamem trials. This
cognitive composite and the CDR-SB are key endpoints in the on-going XanaMIA phase 2b trial in participants
with mild to moderate AD whose diagnosis will be confirmed by elevated pTau181 levels.
ENDS
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d: Cohen’s d is a measure of effect size vs. placebo as a proportion of baseline standard deviation
Actinogen Medical Limited ACN 086 778 476
Suite 901, Level 9, 109 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000
+61 2 8964 7401 | actinogen.com.au
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Investors
Dr. Steven Gourlay
CEO & Managing Director
P: +61 2 8964 7401
E. steven.gourlay@actinogen.com.au
Michael Roberts
Investor Relations
M: +61 423 866 231
E. michael.roberts@actinogen.com.au
Announcement authorised by the Board of Directors of Actinogen Medical
About Actinogen Medical
Actinogen Medical (ACW) is an ASX-listed, biotechnology company developing a novel therapy for neurological and
neuropsychiatric diseases associated with dysregulated brain cortisol. There is a strong association between cortisol and
detrimental changes in the brain, affecting cognitive function, harm to brain cells and long-term cognitive health.
Cognitive function means how a person understands, remembers and thinks clearly. Cognitive functions include memory,
attention, reasoning, awareness and decision-making.
Actinogen is currently developing its lead compound, Xanamem, as a promising new therapy for Alzheimer’s Disease and
Depression and hopes to study Fragile X Syndrome and other neurological and psychiatric diseases in the future. Reducing
cortisol inside brain cells could have a positive impact in these and many other diseases. The cognitive dysfunction,
behavioural abnormalities, and neuropsychological burden associated with these conditions is debilitating for patients, and
there is a substantial unmet medical need for new and improved treatments.
Current Clinical Trials
The XanaCIDD Phase 2a cognition & depression trial is a double-blind, six-week proof-of-concept, placebo-controlled,
parallel group design trial in 167 patients. Participants are evenly randomized to receive Xanamem 10 mg once daily or
placebo, in some cases in addition to their existing antidepressant therapy, and effects on cognition and depression are
assessed. Results are due to be reported early in Q3 2024.
The XanaMIA Phase 2b Alzheimer’s disease trial is a double-blind, 36-week treatment, placebo-controlled, parallel
group design trial in 220 patients with mild to moderate AD and progressive disease, determined by clinical criteria and
confirmed by an elevated level of the pTau181 protein biomarker in blood. Patients receive Xanamem 10 mg or placebo,
once daily, and effects on cognition, function and progression of Alzheimer’s disease are assessed. Thus, Xanamem is
being assessed in this trial for its potential effects as a both a cognitive enhancer and a disease course modifier. Interim
results are due to be reported in mid 2025 with final results in 2026.
About Xanamem
Xanamem’s novel mechanism of action is to block the production of cortisol inside cells through the inhibition of the 11βHSD1 enzyme in the brain. Xanamem is designed to get into the brain after it is absorbed in the intestines upon swallowing.
Chronically elevated cortisol is associated with cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s Disease and excess cortisol is known to
be toxic to brain cells. Cognitive impairment is also a feature in Depression and many other diseases. Cortisol itself is also
associated with depressive symptoms and when targeted via other mechanisms has shown some promise in prior clinical
trials.
The Company has studied 11β-HSD1 inhibition by Xanamem in more than 300 volunteers and patients, so far finding a
statistically significant improvement in working memory and attention, compared with placebo, in healthy, older volunteers
in two consecutive trials and clinically significant improvements in functional and cognitive ability in patients with biomarkerpositive mild AD. Previously, high levels of target engagement in the brain with doses as low as 5 mg daily have been
demonstrated in a human PET imaging study. A series of Phase 2 studies in multiple diseases is being conducted to further
confirm and characterize Xanamem’s therapeutic potential.
Xanamem is an investigational product and is not approved for use outside of a clinical trial by the FDA or by any global
regulatory authority. Xanamem® is a trademark of Actinogen Medical.
Actinogen Medical Limited ACN 086 778 476
Suite 901, Level 9, 109 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000
+61 2 8964 7401 | actinogen.com.au
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Disclaimer
This announcement and attachments may contain certain "forward-looking statements" that are not historical facts; are
based on subjective estimates, assumptions and qualifications; and relate to circumstances and events that have not taken
place and may not take place. Such forward looking statements should be considered “at-risk statements” - not to be relied
upon as they are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors (such as significant business,
economic and competitive uncertainties / contingencies and regulatory and clinical development risks, future outcomes
and uncertainties) that may lead to actual results being materially different from any forward looking statement or the
performance expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on
these forward-looking statements that speak only as of the date hereof. Actinogen Medical does not undertake any
obligation to revise such statements to reflect events or any change in circumstances arising after the date hereof, or to
reflect the occurrence of or non-occurrence of any future events. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future
performance. Actinogen Medical does not make any guarantee, representation or warranty as to the likelihood of
achievement or reasonableness of any forward-looking statements and there can be no assurance or guarantee that any
forward-looking statements will be realised.
ACTINOGEN MEDICAL ENCOURAGES ALL CURRENT INVESTORS TO GO PAPERLESS BY REGISTERING THEIR DETAILS
WITH THE DESIGNATED REGISTRY SERVICE PROVIDER, AUTOMIC GROUP.
Actinogen Medical Limited ACN 086 778 476
Suite 901, Level 9, 109 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000
+61 2 8964 7401 | actinogen.com.au
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