The compound, AEOL 11207, has shown potential in preclinical testing as a once-every-other-day oral therapeutic treatment option for a number of CNS disorders, most likely Parkinson's disease. However, the company said that it has not yet fully determined what the most robust therapeutic use of the compound might be.
A biological hallmark of Parkinson's disease is a reduction in brain dopamine levels. Preventing or slowing the destruction of brain cells that lead to the depletion of dopamine levels in the brain is an important therapeutic approach for the treatment of this disease.
Data developed with AEOL 11207 in a widely used animal model of Parkinson's disease showed that when administered orally, AEOL 11207 crosses the blood brain barrier and protected dopamine neurons in a dose-dependent manner.
Data also indicates that when administered orally, the compound is greater than 80% bioavailable, meaning that it is readily absorbed and reaches both the circulatory system and the brain in sufficient amounts to demonstrate biological activity.
“For this and other reasons, the company believes that the therapeutic rationale for developing AEOL 11207 as a neuroprotectant, may substantially change the course of therapeutic treatment options for Parkinson's disease if AEOL 11207 were to achieve regulatory approval for commercialization,” said the company in a statement.