DP Technology has nominated DPT0416 for preclinical development in combating Alzheimer’s disease, advancing AI-driven drug design. The candidate targets neurovascular dysfunction, offering new hope for treatment beyond amyloid plaques.
DP Technology has nominated a new candidate, DPT0416, for preclinical development in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease. This announcement marks a significant step for the company, which is leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to drive advancements in scientific research, particularly in drug discovery.
As the leading cause of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease impacts an estimated 57 million people globally. The condition is characterised by progressive neurodegeneration, often leading to severe cognitive decline. The conventional understanding of Alzheimer’s has primarily focused on amyloid plaques; however, recent research has revealed that neurovascular dysfunction plays a crucial role in its progression.
DPT0416 is a central nervous system (CNS)-penetrable small molecule that inhibits Lp-PLA2, an enzyme linked to inflammatory processes in the brain. Lp-PLA2 is produced by inflammatory cells and has been implicated in causing blood-brain barrier (BBB) damage and vascular pathology through proinflammatory factors such as lysophosphatidylcholine (lysoPC). This molecule has shown promise in early trials, with studies indicating that inhibiting Lp-PLA2 could slow Alzheimer’s progression and repair BBB damage.
DP Technology’s newly nominated molecule, DPT0416, builds on earlier successes with the Lp-PLA2 inhibitor Rilapladib, which showed potential in Phase IIa trials. Preliminary results from animal models suggest that DPT0416 not only improves BBB integrity but also reduces brain inflammation. The molecule’s higher potency and favourable absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) properties suggest it could be a more effective treatment option than its predecessors.
“Alzheimer’s disease imposes increasing burdens on the world,” commented Xiaomin Zhang, Head of Drug Discovery at DP Technology. “While the approval of anti-amyloid β antibodies represents a significant milestone, their modest clinical efficacy and associated side effects underscore the complexity of the disease. Effective treatment must target multiple aspects including inflammation and brain resilience.”
The nomination of DPT0416 is also a testament to DP Technology’s novel RiDYMO® platform. This AI-driven drug design system integrates various algorithms to tackle challenging medical targets. RiDYMO® leverages Reinforced Dynamics (RiD), enhancing sampling efficiency in molecular dynamics simulations to identify drug-like characteristics and improve brain penetration properties.
Weijie Sun, Founder and CEO of DP Technology, hailed the achievement as a key demonstration of the platform’s capabilities. “The successful identification of DPT0416 highlights the power of our RiDYMO® platform, especially its capacity to enhance molecular interactions and drug characteristics. This advances us significantly towards realising our vision of revolutionising the AI for Science landscape,” said Sun.
The next steps for DPT0416 include IND-enabling studies, which are necessary for advancing to human clinical trials. The company anticipates further collaborations with external partners to propel this promising candidate to the next stages of development.
DP Technology’s focus goes beyond Alzheimer’s disease, with research interests spanning CNS disorders, oncology, and autoimmune diseases. Their AI-driven approach continues to push the boundaries of traditional drug discovery, promising new treatments for complex and often ‘undruggable’ targets.
This development signals a promising avenue for tackling Alzheimer’s disease in a way that addresses both amyloid-related and neurovascular pathologies. If successful, DPT0416 could offer new hope to millions affected by the disorder.
As Alzheimer’s disease continues to present formidable challenges, the advancement of DPT0416 underscores the critical role of innovative technology in modern medicine. The clinical community will closely watch the progress of this potential breakthrough in Alzheimer’s treatment.
