Drug shows promise in animal model of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's with dementia

New research presented in October at the 6th Neurodegenerative Conditions Research and Development Conference in San Francisco demonstrates the role of the investigational compound IRX4204 in alleviating cognitive decline in animal models of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The presentation entitled "Investigation of the RXR-specific agonist IRX4204 as a Disease Modifying Agent of Alzheimer's Disease Neuropathology and Cognitive Impairment" was made by lead researcher Giulio Maria Pasinetti, MD, PhD, of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City.

IRX4204 is a retinoid X receptor (RXR) agonist, meaning it stimulates the retinoid receptor in the brain.The data demonstrates attenuation of AD including prevention of plaque deposits associated with cognitive deterioration in an IRX4204-treated mouse model genetically determined to develop AD. IRX4204 also prevents neuropathological features associated with abnormal tau processing, another form of abnormal protein also found in a form of Parkinson's disease associated with dementia.

"The treatment of AD remains a serious unmet medical need which IRX4204 may be able to address," Dr. Pasinetti said "Our research show that IRX4204 and other RXR agonists have potential for slowing, and possibly reversing pathology and cognitive deficits in Alzheimer's disease patients."

Ongoing translational studies in subjects with Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease with dementia are currently being developed.

Alzheimer's disease currently afflicts more than 5 million Americans and may triple in prevalence to more than 16 million Americans by 2050, according to data from The Alzheimer's Association.

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About The Mount Sinai Medical Center

The Mount Sinai Medical Center encompasses both The Mount Sinai Hospital and Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Established in 1968, Mount Sinai School of Medicine is one of the leading medical schools in the United States. The Medical School is noted for innovation in education, biomedical research, clinical care delivery, and local and global community service. It has more than 3,400 faculty in 32 departments and 14 research institutes, and ranks among the top 20 medical schools both in National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding and by U.S. News and World Report.

The Mount Sinai Hospital, founded in 1852, is a 1,171-bed tertiary- and quaternary-care teaching facility and one of the nation's oldest, largest and most-respected voluntary hospitals. In 2012, U.S. News and World Report ranked The Mount Sinai Hospital 14th on its elite Honor Roll of the nation's top hospitals based on reputation, safety, and other patient-care factors. Mount Sinai is one of 12 integrated academic medical centers whose medical school ranks among the top 20 in NIH funding and by U.S. News and World Report and whose hospital is on the U.S. News and World Report Honor Roll. Nearly 60,000 people were treated at Mount Sinai as inpatients last year, and approximately 560,000 outpatient visits took place.