Alzheimer’s disease: World Health Organisation win for Actinogen Medical drug Xanamem
A once-a-day wonder drug that could be the “holy grail” in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease is a step closer to becoming a reality after a huge win.
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A once-a-day pill that could be the “holy grail” in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease is a step closer to becoming a reality after a huge win for the Australian firm behind the potential wonder drug.
The World Health Organisation has granted Actinogen Medical the nonproprietary name, or generic name, ‘emestedastat’ for its new drug Xanamem.
The new move recognises Xanamem as the first drug named in its class of enzyme inhibitors targeting cortisol synthesis in the brain.
It is a huge milestone for the firm as few Australian-developed drugs have achieved the WHO’s “first-in-class” designation.
Xanamem helps slow down the course of Alzheimer’s disease and address cognitive decline.
Although it is not a cure, Xanamem’s ability to slow or halt cognitive decline, as well as modifying the course of the disease, could offer new hope to patients.
Positive results from two important phase two trials, which focused on patients with cognitive dysfunction and depression and mild to moderate Alzheimer’s, have paved the way for larger trials and it is hoped final results will be available next year.
Xanamem is specifically designed to prevent the excess production of cortisol in the areas of the brain that are most affected by Alzheimer’s disease.
This potential could extend to other dementias such as Lewy-Body disease, frontotemporal dementia, and dementia associated with Parkinson’s disease, Actinogen’s CEO Professor Steve Gourlay said.
Dr Gourlay said the firm’s nod from the WHO was “a great Australian story”.
“The WHO has a naming process where you apply and they give you a name, it’s not the brand name, it’s the name that will always be used for that particular drug,” he said.
“What’s unique about our situation is that in giving us the new name, emestedastat, the committee recognised that this is the first of its class to ever be named in this way.”
Dr Gourlay said Actinogen was bringing “a truly novel and innovative therapy” to patients and the hope was that the drug would be applicable not just to Alzheimer’s but to other types of dementia as well as potentially Parkinson’s, depression and other related psychiatric illnesses.
Alzheimer’s disease, which results in worsening symptoms over a number of years, affected 411,100 Australians in 2023, according to Australian Institute of Health and Welfare estimates.
Associate Professor Michael Woodward AM, Dementia Australia’s Honorary Medical Adviser, said Xanamem “may offer stabilisation and hopefully a slower decline for people living with dementia”.
Associate Professor Woodward said anything that could safely and conveniently assist to reduce the impact of Alzheimer’s disease was “welcome progress”.
“Xanamem has solid data from early-stage studies showing that it is effective,” he said.
“It would certainly be welcomed to have a new class of orally active drug that helps people living with dementia manage their condition.”
For anyone who is impacted by dementia, has questions or needs advice, the National Dementia Helpline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 1800 100 500 or visit dementia.org.au for email or live chat options.
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Originally published as Alzheimer’s disease: World Health Organisation win for Actinogen Medical drug Xanamem
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