Amorfix Life Sciences reports protein link between ALS and Alzheimer's
22 hours ago

TORONTO - Amorfix Life Sciences (TSX:AMF) said Tuesday it has discovered a protein in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease that is also found in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, indicating a connection between Alzheimer's and ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

Amorfix, focused on finding treatments for brain-wasting diseases, said the discovery of the misfolded superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) protein "suggests that SOD1 is a common link between the two brain-wasting diseases."

It said SOD1 normally plays a protective role in detoxifying free radicals in the body, but when misfolded it can create lethal oxidative free radicals - reactive electron-unbalanced molecules.

Previous Amorfix pilot studies indicated its antibodies and vaccines that target misfolded SOD1 extended the lives of mice with ALS, and the Toronto-based company now will investigate using these agents to treat Alzheimer's.

"Evidence of free radical toxicity has been observed in Alzheimer's disease for many years and the discovery of the presence of misfolded SOD1 strongly suggests this toxicity is associated with SOD1," stated Neil Cashman, chief scientific officer of Amorfix.

The company's technology is based on the premise that the misfolding and aggregation of SOD1 leads to the death of neurons, and if misfolded SOD1 could be neutralized by antibodies, brain-wasting diseases could be effectively treated.

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