Transition: First Patient Dosed In Phase 2a Study Of ELND005 In Down Syndrome

(RTTNews) - Transition Therapeutics Inc. (TTHI, TTH.TO) announced the first patient dosing in a Phase 2a study of ELND005 in Down syndrome. The company noted that Study ELND005-DS201 will evaluate the safety and pharmacokinetics of two doses of ELND005 and placebo in young adults with Down syndrome without dementia, and will also include select cognitive and behavioural measures.

The company said the first person was dosed at the site of Ira Lott, Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics and Down syndrome expert at the University of California, Irvine.

Transition stated that its licensing partner, Elan Corporation, Plc. (ELN), is responsible for all development and commercialization activities and costs of ELND005.

Transition noted that ELND005 is an orally bioavailable small molecule that is being investigated by Transition's licensing partner, Elan, for multiple neuropsychiatric indications on the basis of its proposed dual mechanism of action, which includes ß-amyloid anti-aggregation and regulation of brain myo-inositol levels. An extensive clinical program of Phase 1 and Phase 2 studies have been completed with ELND005 to support clinical development, including the published Phase 2 study ELND005-AD201 in AD.

ELND005 is also being studied as a potential treatment of agitation and aggression in Alzheimer's disease (Study ELND005-AG201) and as a maintenance therapy of Bipolar Disorder Type I (Study ELND005-BPD201).