Living Cell Technologies to head pre-clinical studies of AI-116 cannabinoid to treat dementia
Living Cell Technologies (ASX: LCT) has entered into a research agreement with Melbourne’s La Trobe University for a range of pre-clinical studies assessing the effect of cannabinoid-based combination drug AI-116 on patients with dementia.
The studies will employ state-of-the-art experimental techniques which are expected to provide valuable insights into AI-116’s mechanism of action by comparing its efficacy to an existing class of drugs used to treat the cognitive disease.
Results from the studies will roll in over a period of 12 months and are expected to guide the next steps in Living Cell’s research and development program for AI-116.
They could potentially underpin further patent applications consistent with the company’s strategy of identifying new opportunities to develop intellectual property assets which align with its commercial interests.
Principal investigator
Living Cell’s pre-clinical studies are being led by principal investigator and physiology expert Professor Garrie Arumugam at La Trobe’s Centre for Cardiovascular Biology and Disease Research.
Professor Arumugam earned a bachelor’s degree in medical science with honors in 1998 at the University of Sydney and holds a doctorate in pharmacology from the University of Queensland.
He completed his post-doctoral training at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Centre and at the US National Institute of Health.
Professor Arumugam joined La Trobe University in early 2020 and has specialised in researching and investigating neuronal cell death mechanisms in stroke and vascular dementia.
Cognitive decline
Dementia is used to describe a decline in cognitive function which affects a person’s ability to perform daily activities.
Patients commonly have one or more specific difficulties which include a decline in memory, reasoning, language, coordination, mood and behaviour.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia and is characterised by the formation of amyloid plaques and tau tangles in the brain, leading to the progressive degeneration of brain cells and memory loss.
As there is presently no cure for dementia, the primary focus of treatment remains on managing symptoms and slowing progression of the disease.
In 2021, the global dementia drugs market was valued at more than US$8.7 billion and is projected to grow at a compound annual rate of 8.5% from now until 2031.