Study: Canadian Regulators Give OK for Human Trials of New Alzheimer's Drug

Canadian regulators have given their approval to start human clinical testing of the drug GT 1061 in the treatment of mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease.

GT 1061 is the first drug candidate from a new class of molecules, discovered by scientists from Queens University in Kingston, Ontario, who later founded a company called GB Therapeutics.

GT 1061 is an engineered compound that mimics the pharmacological actions of nitric oxide.

"GT 1061 shows significant promise at extending the improvement in
memory as well as the potential to slow disease progression, by rescuing brain cells from significant compromise or death," said Dr. Mark de Somer, executive vice president of research at GB Therapeutics.

Currently, five approved drugs are available to treat the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, but GB Therapeutics officials claim these have limited effectiveness, carry significant side effects and offer no real prospect of altering the progression of the disease.

Other sources: GB Therapeutics Ltd.