# Development of a lead candidate for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease

> **NIH NIH R41** · VOVA IDA THERAPEUTICS INC · 2023 · $100,250

## Abstract

SUMMARY
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an age-related neurodegenerative disease that has become a global
epidemic with over 40 million people affected worldwide and a projected 115 million in 2050. It is the 6th
leading cause of death in the United States. AD has a tremendous impact on health, society and the
economy. Approved treatments at best partially ameliorate some symptoms. There is an urgent need for
novel, disease-modifying treatments. AD is a complex disease with multiple players that may be targeted
for therapeutic intervention. A core pathogenic mechanism is the cellular toxicity of Ab42 peptide oligomers
with the cascade of activation and phosphorylation events that follow neuronal oligomeric Ab42 binding
and internalization. These result, inter alia, in oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, synaptic
dysfunction, abnormal Ca2+ signaling and excitotoxicity. The overarching goal of this project is to develop
a drug targeting neurotoxic Ab42 signaling. In this phase 1 component of the project, we will demonstrate
the feasibility of optimizing our candidate compound into a therapeutic lead. We will conduct several
rounds of structure-activity relationship studies aimed at increasing the compound’s potency, selectivity,
metabolic and pharmacokinetic properties, including brain penetration. A series of in vitro/cell-based
assays, DMPK studies and testing in a murine AD model will guide compound progression. The
successful completion of phase 1 will deliver an optimized lead compound ready for development and
IND-enabling studies in phase 2.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10706549
- **Project number:** 5R41AG079775-02
- **Recipient organization:** VOVA IDA THERAPEUTICS INC
- **Principal Investigator:** Corinne Ida Lasmezas
- **Activity code:** R41 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $100,250
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-09-30 → 2025-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10706549

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10706549, Development of a lead candidate for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (5R41AG079775-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10706549. Licensed CC0.

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