ACW presents at BIO international partnering conference
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ASX ANNOUNCEMENT
Actinogen presents at BIO International Convention in Boston
Sydney, 16 June 2025. Actinogen Medical ASX: ACW (“ACW” or “the Company”) is pleased to announce
that its Chief Commercial Officer, Mr Andy Udell, and its Chief Medical Officer, Dr Dana Hilt MD, will be
conducting meetings and delivering a company presentation at the BIO 1 International Convention (BIO 2025)
in Boston, USA this week.
BIO 2025, running from June 16 to 19, is the world’s largest biotechnology event, bringing together industry
leaders from around the world to learn, network, and build relationships.
Mr. Udell and Dr. Hilt will engage with international investors and potential biopharma partners throughout the
conference to discuss Actinogen’s latest advancements and the potential of its lead asset, Xanamem ®.
Actinogen is currently conducting a pivotal phase 2b/3 Alzheimer’s disease (AD) trial, the results of which could
be transformational for the Company, and this is reflected in the meetings scheduled at the conference. The
search for innovative therapies that could be used either alone or in combination for the treatment of
Alzheimer’s is a significant priority for the pharma/biotech industry.
Mr. Udell and Dr. Hilt will deliver a corporate presentation in Room 153B at the Boston Convention & Exhibition
Center at 4.45pm (US Eastern) Tuesday, June 17.
The presentation slides are attached to this announcement.
Mr Udell commented:
“We are thrilled to share our progress at BIO 2025. Our ongoing Phase 2b/3 trial for Alzheimer’s disease marks
a pivotal advancement in our commitment to pioneering transformative therapies. We have a full slate of
meetings and look forward to engaging with industry leaders and potential partners to further our efforts.”
ENDS
Dr. Steven Gourlay
CEO & Managing Director
P: +61 2 8964 7401
E. steven.gourlay@actinogen.com.au
Investors
Media
Michael Roberts
Investor Relations
M: +61 423 866 231
George Hazim
Media & Public Affairs Australia
M: +61 417 516 262
E. michael.roberts@actinogen.com.au
E: georgehazim@mediaaffairs.com.au
Announcement authorised by the Board of Directors of Actinogen Medical
The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) is the world’s largest advocacy association for biotechnology and the producer of the
convention.
®
Xanamem is a registered trademark of Actinogen Medical Limited.
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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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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.
Clinical Trials
The XanaMIA Phase 2b/3 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 its ability to slow progression of Alzheimer’s disease is assessed with a variety of endpoints. The primary
endpoint of the trial is the internationally-recognized CDR-SB (Clinical Dementia Rating scale – Sum of Boxes). The trial
is being conducted in Australia and the US. Initial results from an interim analysis triggered by the 100th participant reaching
24 weeks of treatment are anticipated in Q4 2025 and final results Q4 2026.
The XanaCIDD Phase 2a depression trial was a double-blind, six-week proof-of-concept, placebo-controlled, parallel
group design trial in 167 patients with moderate, treatment-resistant depression and a degree of baseline cognitive
impairment. Participants were evenly randomized to receive Xanamem 10 mg once daily or placebo, in most cases in
addition to their existing antidepressant therapy, and effects on cognition and depression were assessed. Trial results were
reported in August 2024 and showed clinically and statistically significant benefits on depression symptoms with positive
effects on the MADRS scale (a validated scale of depression symptom measurement) and the PGI-S (a valid patient
reported assessment of depression severity). Cognition improved markedly and to a similar extent in both Xanamem and
placebo groups.
About Xanamem (emestedastat)
Xanamem’s novel mechanism of action is to control the level of cortisol in the brain through the inhibition of the cortisol
synthesis enzyme, 11β-HSD1, without affecting production of cortisol by the adrenal glands. Xanamem is a first-in-class,
once-a-day pill designed to deliver high levels of cortisol control in the brain.
Chronically elevated cortisol is associated with progression in Alzheimer’s Disease and excess cortisol is known to be toxic
to brain cells. Cortisol itself is also associated with depressive symptoms and when targeted via other mechanisms has
shown some promise in prior clinical trials. The recent XanaCIDD trial demonstrated clinically and sometimes statistically
significant benefits on depressive symptoms.
The Company has studied 11β-HSD1 inhibition by Xanamem in approximately 400 volunteers and patients in eight clinical
trials. Xanamem has a promising safety profile and has demonstrated clinical activity in patients with depression, patients
with biomarker-positive Alzheimer’s disease and cognitively normal volunteers. 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.
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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Oral Xanamem® (emestedastat)
Controlling brain cortisol to slow progression in Alzheimer’s disease
and treat depression
BIO Partnering Meetings
June 2025
® Xanamem is a registered trademark of Actinogen Medical Limited
Xanamem is in advanced stages of development
Novel 11β-HSD1 cortisol control mechanism, oral, attractive safety profile
• Brain cortisol has long been proposed as a pathogenic mechanism in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Alzheimer’s (AD)
• Unique brain-penetrant tissue cortisol synthesis inhibitor that leaves adrenal cortisol synthesis unaffected
• Over 400 people treated with excellent safety and low drug interaction risk
Positive phase 2 clinical data de-risk Xanamem program
• Disease-modifying activity on CDR-SB in phase 2a trial in biomarker-positive Alzheimer’s patients
• Phase 2a MDD trial showing clinically & statistically significant activity - benefits across multiple endpoints
• Positive data from both trials read through to other indications in psychiatry and the dementias
Patent/data protection and advanced manufacturing
• Composition of matter protection to 2031, and 2036 with extensions in major markets, newer patents in process
• Data exclusivity protects Xanamem data from use by others for 5 to 10 years from approval e.g. 10 years in EU
• Manufacturing process scaled up and patented, contractors Asymchem (China) & Catalent (US)
Large clinical and commercial opportunities
• No other brain-penetrant cortisol control drugs in development, first to be awarded INN and USAN names1
• Anti-depressant market is currently ~$20 billion, with major opportunities for novel mechanisms & better-tolerated drugs
• Alzheimer’s market likely to be $20 billion by 2030, with major opportunity for a safe & effective oral agent
1. Xanamem’s International Nonproprietary Name (INN) , emestedastat, was awarded by a naming committee of the World Health Organization:
“-stedastat” chosen for the first time for all 11β-HSD1 inhibitors; USAN (United States Adopted Name)
BIO Corporate Presentation June 2025
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Xanamem’s unique mechanism of action
Mechanism of Action video for Xanamem (emestedastat)
BIO Corporate Presentation June 2025
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Once-daily oral treatment with a unique mechanism
Xanamem is a small molecule tissue cortisol synthesis inhibitor (11β-HSD1 enzyme)
Potentially disease-modifying in AD
Anti-depressant activity in phase 2
Brain-penetrant at low doses
Good safety profile in ~400 treated
Low drug interaction potential ideal
for combination therapy
Mouse experimental studies, brain cortisol levels & human clinical trials
validate cortisol as a target for the treatment of AD
BIO Corporate Presentation June 2025
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Human PET study shows full target engagement
Other 11β-HSD1 enzyme inhibitors have not achieved adequate brain levels
Baseline
After 7 days of daily dosing
5 mg Xanamem
10 mg Xanamem
20 mg Xanamem
SUVRcarotid
Xanamem extensively binds
to the 11β-HSD1 enzyme
throughout the brain, with
high post-treatment effects
(absence of color) after
7 days at all doses, slightly
less at a 5 mg dose.
This is consistent with full
hormonal pharmacodynamic
activity seen in clinical trials
with doses as low as 5 mg.
Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease 97 (2024) 1463–1475
Brain 11-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1 Occupancy by Xanamem
Assessed by PET in Alzheimer’s Disease and Cognitively Normal Individuals
Victor L. Villemagne, Vincent Dor, Lee Chong, Michael Kassiou, Rachel Mulligan,
Azadeh Feizpour, Jack Taylor, Miriam Roesner, Tamara Miller and Christopher C. Rowe
BIO Corporate Presentation June 2025
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Alzheimer’s disease program
BIO Corporate Presentation June 2025
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Alzheimer’s disease market is large and growing
Strong cortisol control scientific rationale to address huge unmet medical need
Rationale
• Cortisol levels elevated in brain fluid in
early AD
Growing Alzheimer’s Disease market – U.S.
Large, unsatisfied and growing market
# of patients
• Chronic corticosteroid treatment leads to
hippocampal atrophy and cognitive impairment
• Elevated cortisol levels are associated with
clinical progression
• Alzheimer’s disease mouse model:
30–60% inhibition of 11β-HSD1 provides
full neuroprotection
Cost to treat
$400+B
14.0M
$200B
5.8M
• AD phase 2a trial shows slowed disease
progression in biomarker-positive patients
• Safe & effective oral therapy is “holy grail”
2020
2060 (Est.)
2010
2040 (Est.)
BIO Corporate Presentation June 2025
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Anti-amyloid therapy modestly slows AD progression
Ideally patients with AD would not worsen on treatment at all
0.5
Worsening of
CDR-SB
over 18 months
Ideal trajectory
with disease
stabilization
0
-0.5
Unmet need
despite amyloid
therapy
-1
-1.5
Benefit of
donanemab
over 18 months
-2
-2.5
Worse
performance
-3
donanemab all
placebo all
halt progression
Drugs targeting other mechanisms like Xanamem are needed
BIO Corporate Presentation June 2025
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Large Xanamem benefit in high pTau181 patients
Phase 2a biomarker study: major slowing of CDR-SB decline over 12 weeks (n=34)
Xanamem
Placebo
0
0.2
0.36
0.4
CDR-SB units
Change from
Baseline (SE)
Xanamem vs. Placebo
•
•
•
•
0.6
0.8
Mean 0.6 units
Median 0.8 units
p = 0.09
Cohen’s d = 0.4
0.98
1
1.2
Worse
performance
1.4
Baseline
Week 12
Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease 100 (2024) 139–150
Plasma pTau181 Predicts Clinical Progression in a Phase 2 Randomized
Controlled Trial of the 11-HSD1 Inhibitor Xanamem® for Mild Alzheimer’s Disease
Jack Taylor, Mark Jaros, Christopher Chen, John Harrison and Dana Hilt
BIO Corporate Presentation June 2025
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XanaMIA phase 2b/3 trial in Alzheimer’s disease
Initial, interim results in Q4 2025, final results Q4 2026
Follow-up &
open label
10mg Xanamem
Screening
from Dec 23
Placebo
-4
0
Key Inclusion Criteria
• Blood pTau biomarker positive
• Mild-moderate Alzheimer’s by
NIA-AA criteria
Double-blind, randomised treatment period (N=220)
Interim analysis N=100 @ 24 weeks
36 Weeks
40 Weeks
Primary Endpoint
Key Secondary Endpoints
Implementation
• CDR-SB (functional and
cognitive measure) @36 weeks
• Cognitive Test Battery
(7 cognitive measures wellvalidated in the Alzheimer’s field)
• Enrolment at 15 Australian & 20
US sites
NIA-AA=National Institute of Aging - Alzheimer’s Association; CDR-SB Clinical Dementia Rating Scale – Sum of Boxes
• Amsterdam Activity of Daily Living
(functional measure)
• Interim analysis planned when
~100 people complete 24 weeks
BIO Corporate Presentation June 2025
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Depression program
BIO Corporate Presentation June 2025
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There remains significant unmet need in depression
Xanamem’s unique mechanism and safety differentiate it from older drugs
Scientific rationale
• More than 50 years of research associates
cortisol with depression
U.S. Depression market large unmet need
• 21M patients have had ≥ 1 MDD episode
• Elevated CSF and plasma cortisol levels
associated with diagnosis, treatment outcomes
and relapse
• Positive effects of cortisol receptor antagonism
reported with mifepristone3
• Two-thirds with an episode with severe
impairment in the past year
• Now positive phase 2a data on depressive
symptoms for Xanamem (MADRS, PGI-S)
• 61% of all adults with MDD episodes
receive treatment
• ≥365 M prescriptions per year
A safe, durably effective and combinable small molecule is a
very attractive product profile for depression AND Alzheimer’s
3. Ding et al 2021
BIO Corporate Presentation June 2025
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Phase 2a depression symptom benefits (2024) - major
scientific and drug development achievement
Data support further MDD development and are a positive for Alzheimer’s too
• Clinically and statistically significant treatment benefits on depressive symptoms
for MADRS and patient-reported outcome of severity
• Predominantly co-treated population with moderate MDD
• Consistent depression efficacy across subgroups
• Xanamem was safe and well tolerated (n=165 treated) with no observed suicide risk or
withdrawal syndrome
• The trial was well-conducted with no major differences between Australia and the UK or at
high enrolling clinical sites
• Benefits on depression are a desirable feature for an Alzheimer’s drug
• Funding for the next depression trial being investigated with potential partners and/or
granting bodies
Further XanaCIDD phase 2a depression trial results shown in the Appendix
BIO Corporate Presentation June 2025
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Xanamem MADRS improvement from Week 6 (n=165)
All randomized participants
Baseline
Week 2
Week 4
Week 6
Week 10 PT
0
MADRS
LS mean change
from baseline (± SE)
-2
BETTER
-4
EOT 1.5-point difference
Cohen’s d = 0.24
p = 0.23
-6
PT 2.7-point difference
Cohen’s d = 0.43
p < 0.05
-8
-10
-12
FOLLOW
UP
ON TREATMENT
Xanamem (n=82)
Abbreviations: MADRS = Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale – a structured interview to assess depression severity
Placebo (n=83)
BIO Corporate Presentation June 2025
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MADRS benefit in patients also taking SSRI (n=76)
Largest co-treatment subgroup
Baseline
Week 2
Week 4
Week 6
Week 10
0
MADRS
LS mean change
from baseline (± SE)
-2
EOT 2.6-point difference
Cohen’s d = 0.38
p = 0.15
-4
PT 4.2-point difference
Cohen’s d = 0.64
p = 0.03
BETTER
-6
-8
-10
-12
FOLLOW
UP
ON TREATMENT
Xanamem (n=37)
Abbreviations: SSRI, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
Placebo (n=39)
BIO Corporate Presentation June 2025
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Conclusion and Questions
BIO Corporate Presentation June 2025
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Building momentum toward Alzheimer’s results
Numerous value-add milestones in 2025 and 2026 before final XanaMIA P2b results late 2026
• Xanamem has shown positive results in two Phase 2 trials: AD and MDD
• Positive phase 2a MDD data validates multiple Xanamem programs
✓ Clinical activity of unique “cortisol control” mechanism of action
✓ Clinical activity of the 10 mg daily dose being used in all trials
✓ Reinforces the likelihood of seeing a disease-modifying effect in Alzheimer’s
disease over 36 weeks in current XanaMIA trial
• Company funded to at least mid 2026
• Commercial planning underway in preparation for early marketing approvals and
potential partnership(s)
• Trial, regulatory, publication and presentation milestones in coming 18 months
BIO Corporate Presentation June 2025
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Contacts
Steven Gourlay
CEO & Managing Director
P: +61 2 8964 7401
E. steven.gourlay@actinogen.com.au
Andrew Udell
Chief Commercial Officer
P: +1 203-912-3526
E. andy.udell@actinogen.com.au
Kristine Dorward
Head of Business Development
P: +1 514-618-0360
E. kristine@pullanconsulting.com
BIO Corporate Presentation June 2025
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