Alterity's Parkinson's Candidate Prevents Loss Of Brain Cells In Animal Model

Alterity Therapeutics ATHE announced that a study recently published in the journal Neurotherapeutics demonstrated that its lead clinical asset, ATH434, was neuroprotective in a genetic model of Parkinson's disease (PD).
The publication assessed the impact of ATH434 on motor and non-motor deficits in mice with genetically induced Parkinson's disease.
Hyposmia, defined as reduced sensitivity to odor, is an early and common non-motor symptom of PD that precedes the typical motor symptoms by several years, occurring in approximately 90% of early-stage cases of PD2.
The study found that ATH434 prevented a loss of smell in the younger mice and rescued it in older mice.
The authors also demonstrated that ATH434 prevented the development of motor impairment in older animals, which was associated with a reduction in iron levels and preservation of neurons in the substantia nigra, the brain region affected in Parkinson's.
These data support other studies indicating that ATH434 has a beneficial effect on motor and non-motor symptoms in animal models of PD.
Price Action: ATHE shares are up 8.95% at $4.26 on the last check Monday.