Pittsburgh, Nov. 27, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cognition Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical stage neuroscience company focused on the protection and restoration of synaptic function in neurodegenerative disorders, today announced the addition of three renowned leaders in imaging and molecular biomarkers to the company’s Medical Advisory Board. The global thought leaders, Kaj Blennow, M.D., Ph.D. and Henrik Zetterberg, M.D. of the University of Gothenburg, Sweden and John Harrison, Ph.D. of the VU Medical Center (VUmc) Alzheimer’s Center in Amsterdam, add significant expertise in the research and development of biomarker tests and alternative endpoints to Cognition’s efforts in the development of its lead experimental medicine, Elayta™.

“The insights of these thought leaders into biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease pathology and treatment will greatly benefit our clinical programs as we progress with the SNAP, SPARC and SHINE trials of Elayta,” stated Cognition Therapeutics Chief Science Office Susan Catalano, Ph.D. “Our earlier clinical study in Alzheimer’s disease patients provided initial evidence that patients treated with Elayta have a reduction in protein biomarkers of synaptic damage after only 28 days of treatment, and we expect to work with our new MAB members to expand on these findings in ongoing and future clinical trials of Elayta.” 

Dr. Kaj Blennow is a professor of clinical neurochemistry and the head of the research team on neurochemical pathogenesis and diagnostics in the neuroscience and physiology department at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. In addition, he is the head of the Clinical Neurochemistry Lab at Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg, Sweden. His major areas of research interest include cerebrospinal fluid biochemical markers of the clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and other brain disorders, including methodological aspects of cerebrospinal fluid analyses. Dr. Blennow is an M.D. with specialties in general psychiatry and clinical chemistry. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Gothenburg in 1990. In 2011, he was awarded the Henry Wisniewski Lifetime Achievement Award by the Alzheimer’s Association, and in 2016 the Söderberg Prize in Medicine for his research on Alzheimer’s disease. 

Dr. John Harrison currently serves as an associate professor with the Alzheimer Center at the VUmc in Amsterdam. He is also an honorary professor in the department of medicine at Imperial College London and a principal consultant at Metis Cognition Ltd, an applied psychology consulting practice that advises pharmaceutical companies on the integration of cognitive testing in clinical studies. Dr. Harrison has held several positions in industry, most recently as head of neuropsychology at CeNeS Pharmaceuticals. He holds Chartered Psychologist and Associate Fellow status with the British Psychological Society and Chartered Scientist status with the UK Science Council. He holds doctorate degrees in neuroscience and classical and ancient studies. 

Dr. Henrik Zetterberg is a professor of neurochemistry at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden and at University College London, UK, as well as the head of the department of psychiatry and neurochemistry at the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. With a background in molecular biology and medicine, Dr. Zetterberg has spent over a decade focusing on the development of biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease and other brain disorders. His research involves evaluation of biomarkers in cell and animal models, as well as in longitudinal studies of patients and healthy individuals. He has published more than 900 scientific articles and has received the Erik K. Fernström prize for young scientists and the Inga Sandeborg prize for research on Alzheimer’s disease. 

“In the face of the clear complexities of developing new medicines for Alzheimer's disease, biomarkers will be crucial components in the understanding of synaptic damage and the role it plays in disease progression,” said President & CEO Kenneth I. Moch. “We are honored that these distinguished thought leaders will provide additional guidance to Cognition and look forward to building on their keen insights to help us craft the optimal development and regulatory pathway for Elayta based on its novel mechanism of action and unique impact on synaptic function.”

About Cognition Therapeutics, Inc.

Cognition Therapeutics is a privately held biopharmaceutical company focused on the protection and restoration of synaptic function in neurocognitive disorders through a pipeline of disease-modifying small molecule drug candidates. Cognition’s lead candidate, Elayta™, is a proprietary first-in-class, orally available small molecule that has shown synaptorestorative potential and is in development for the treatment of mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease. Dosing has commenced in three clinical studies of Elayta: SPARC (Synaptic Protection for Alzheimer’s Restoration of Cognition), SNAP (AβO Displacement from Synapses on Neurons in Alzheimer’s Patients) and SHINE (Synaptic Health and Improvement of Neurological Function with Elayta). Elayta has been granted Fast Track designation by the U.S. FDA. Elayta and Cognition’s other pipeline candidates were identified using the company’s disease-relevant screening and novel chemistry platforms. Additional information about Cognition and its product candidates may be found online at http://www.cogrx.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” concerning the development and commercialization of Cognition’s products, the potential benefits and attributes of such products, and Cognition’s expectations regarding its prospects. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, assumptions and uncertainties that could cause actual future events or results to differ materially from such statements. These statements are made as of the date of this press release. Actual results may vary. Cognition undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements for any reason.