Seelos Therapeutics' Aggressive Alzheimer's Hopeful Candidate Shows Encouraging Preclinical Activity

Seelos Therapeutics Inc SEEL announced preclinical data from an in vivo study of SLS-005 (trehalose injection, 90.5 mg/mL for intravenous infusion) in an aggressive Alzheimer's disease non-human primate model. 

This study utilized tau overexpression in older non-human primates (NHPs) through bilateral AAV-induced tauopathy. 

NHPs in this study were administered either SLS-005 weekly, a single administration of SLS-009 or control. 

In a preliminary analysis, the NHPs receiving SLS-005 demonstrated a 46% reduction in tau protein and an 18% reduction in NfL (neurofilament light chain), a protein biomarker. 

NfL is a non-specific biomarker for several neurodegenerative conditions, including Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Additionally, top-line data from the SLS-005 registrational Phase 2/3 trial in ALS as part of the HEALEY ALS Platform Trial led by Harvard Medical School at Massachusetts General Hospital is expected to be released in Q4 of 2023.

In animal models of several diseases associated with abnormal cellular protein aggregation or storage of pathologic material, SLS-005 has been shown to reduce aggregation of misfolded proteins and accumulation of pathologic material. 

Recently, Seelos Therapeutics' Part 2 of its Phase 2 study of SLS-002 (intranasal racemic ketamine) for Acute Suicidal Ideation and Behavior in adults with Major Depressive Disorder failed to meet the pre-defined primary endpoint.

Price Action: SEEL shares are up 13.50% at $0.20 on the last check Wednesday.