San Diego-based NeuroGenetic Pharmaceuticals Inc. said Wednesday the Food and Drug Administration has approved clinical trials of its NGP 555 compound to treat and prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
The approval follows successful pre-clinical toxicology and safety studies of the drug under federal grants totaling $3.4 million.
“NGP 555 prevented the formation of and the deposition of amyloid plaques, thereby precluding neuronal cell death and the dementia associated with (Alzheimer’s disease),” saud Dr. William T. Comer, CEO of the privately held biopharmaceutical company.
Comer said NeuroGenetic anticipates it will begin Phase I human clinical trials by the end of 2014.
The company was founded in 2009 to develop innovative drug therapies for Alzheimer’s disease, which affects 5.5 million Americans.