Alpha Cognition develops targeted therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, focusing on conditions that lack effective treatment options. The company utilizes advanced drug discovery techniques to create novel compounds aimed at improving cognitive function in affected patients.
Funding
$35.9M raised to dateRaised to date based on public sources. This may differ from the amount the company actually raised and is based only on what is publicly available on the internet.
Founders
Product
Problem
Current treatments for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's often have limited efficacy and can cause significant gastrointestinal side effects and sleep disturbances, leading to high rates of patient dissatisfaction and treatment discontinuation. Existing medications may also have limited impact on slowing disease progression or improving long-term cognitive outcomes.
Solution
Alpha Cognition is a biopharmaceutical company that develops therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, including ZUNVEYL (benzgalantamine), an FDA-approved cholinesterase inhibitor for mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. ZUNVEYL is designed as a prodrug that minimizes drug absorption in the stomach, reducing gastrointestinal side effects and eliminating insomnia. The active metabolite, galantamine, enhances acetylcholine levels and modulates nicotinic receptor sensitivity, potentially improving learning, memory, and overall cognitive function. Clinical data suggests that galantamine, the active moiety in ZUNVEYL, may reduce the risk of developing severe dementia and lower the risk of death compared to other treatments.
Target Audience
The primary target audience includes individuals with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease, their caregivers, and healthcare professionals in long-term care facilities and neurology practices.
Features
- Prodrug design to minimize gastrointestinal side effects by limiting drug absorption in the stomach
- Zero incidence of insomnia reported in the ZUNVEYL label
- Active metabolite (galantamine) enhances acetylcholine levels and modulates nicotinic receptor sensitivity
- May reduce the risk of developing severe dementia compared to other treatments
- Demonstrated anti-inflammation effects
- Sublingual tablet formulation in development for patients with dysphagia/aphagia
- Being developed in combination with memantine for moderate-to-severe Alzheimer’s disease
- Intranasal formulation (ALPHA-1062IN) in development for Cognitive Impairment with mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI)