Cantabio Announces Publication of Study on Druggability of the Tau protein in ACS Chemical Neuroscience
Structural biology based evidence shows that native monomeric Tau can be a viable target for drug-like small molecules, despite its heterogeneous structure
SUNNYVALE, Calif., June 28, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cantabio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (OTCQB:CTBO) (“Cantabio” or the “Company”), a preclinical stage pharmaceutical company developing disease modifying therapeutics for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and related neurological disorders, today announced the publication of a peer-reviewed article lead authored by Cantabio’s CEO Dr. Gergely Toth, along with collaborators at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), in the journal ACS Chemical Neuroscience.
The publication is entitled “The structural basis of small molecule targetability of monomeric Tau protein” and reports structure-based evidence that native monomeric Tau can be a viable target for drug-like small molecules despite its heterogeneous structure. The aggregation of monomeric Tau protein is linked to the onset and progression of Alzheimer’s disease and other Tauopathies. This study and the scientific team’s previous findings provide theoretical and experimental evidence for the ability of monomeric Tau to be a receptor of small molecules designed to prevent the aggregation which leads to toxicity and cell death. Specific compounds have been shown to bind to monomeric Tau which can inhibit the way in which the protein interacts among itself and consequently its aggregation. The article is available online at website of ACS Chemical Neuroscience: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acschemneuro.8b00182
Professor Eckhard Mandelkow, a co-author of the publication and Group Leader at DZNE in Bonn commented, “Our results provide further evidence that the inhibition of Tau aggregation by small molecules may be a viable therapeutic approach for the development of disease modifying therapies for Tauopathies such as Alzheimer’s disease. These molecules are currently being evaluated in animal models of tau-induced pathology.”
Cantabio’s CEO, Gergely Toth PhD, MBA, stated. “We are excited to publish further scientific evidence that establishes a structural biology basis for Cantabio’s Tau small molecule pharmacological chaperone program, which aims to prevent and reduce aggregation of Tau protein as a therapeutic strategy for Alzheimer’s disease and other Tauopathies such as concussion related Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). The Tau protein has long been a major target for Alzheimer’s drug development but due to the nature of its structure it has historically proven to be a difficult target for small molecule drug candidates. Our work at Cantabio represents a significant step forward in developing a therapy that is able to prevent the formation of the toxic protein aggregates that are associated with neurodegeneration in these diseases.”
About ACS Chemical Neuroscience
ACS Chemical Neuroscience is a peer-reviewed scientific journal published by the American Chemical Society. It publishes high-quality research articles and reviews that showcase chemical, quantitative biological, biophysical and bioengineering approaches to the understanding of the nervous system and to the development of new treatments for neurological disorders.
About Cantabio Pharmaceuticals
Cantabio is focused on bringing novel, first-in-class drug candidates into clinical trials and beyond through the discovery and development of innovative pharmacological chaperone and protein delivery based therapeutics aimed at addressing the root causes of disease, protein misfolding and oxidative stress. Cantabio’s programs focus on protein systems implicated in neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, as well as oxidative stress and diseases related to this. The company is currently engaged in advanced pre-clinical trials of its therapeutic candidates and is focused on developing these towards clinical trials. More information is available at www.cantabio.com.
Contacts:
Company contact:
Thomas Sawyer, Ph.D., M.B.A.
COO
Cantabio Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
844-200-CTBO
ir@cantabio.com
Investors and Media Relations:
ir@cantabio.com
(844) 200-CTBO
Released June 28, 2018