Press Release : Addex's Dipraglurant Restores Synaptic Plasticity in Models of Dystonia

   Data published in Neuropharmacology supports therapeutic role of 
dipraglurant in this important movement disorder 
 
   Geneva, Switzerland, May 17, 2021 -- Addex Therapeutics 
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(SIX: ADXN and Nasdaq: ADXN), a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company 
pioneering allosteric modulation-based drug discovery and development, 
today announced that dipraglurant was able to rescue long-term 
impairment of synaptic plasticity in two well validated models of 
dystonia. The data were published in the journal, Neuropharmacology 
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, under the title "Rescue of striatal long-term depression by chronic 
mGlu5 receptor negative allosteric modulation in distinct dystonia 
models", by a team led by Antonio Pisani, MD, PhD, from the Department 
of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, and Mondino 
Foundation, Pavia, Italy. 
 
   "There is an urgent need to identify targets and design effective 
therapeutics for dystonia due to the current lack of effective treatment 
options. Our studies evaluating the inhibition of mGlu5 receptors with 
dipraglurant in two etiologically distinct forms of dystonia models 
demonstrate that this target is now validated as a promising approach to 
treat dystonia," said Dr Pisani. "In addition, the data suggest there 
are common mechanistic bases and signaling pathways impaired in 
different forms of dystonia, highlighting the potential of dipraglurant 
as a novel therapeutic avenue for the treatment of dystonias. Testing 
this hypothesis in the clinic is warranted." 
 
   In these studies, the researchers showed that chronic dipraglurant 
administration was able to rescue loss of long-term synaptic depression 
(LTD), a form of synaptic plasticity, at corticostriatal synapses which 
is impaired in both DYT1 mice and GNAL rats, two distinct models of 
dystonia. 
 
   "The finding that striatal plasticity can be restored by chronic 
administration of dipraglurant in multiple rodent models of dystonia is 
a very important finding that strengthens the argument that this 
approach could be of great utility for normalizing dystonia-related 
deficits and further support the rationale for developing dipraglurant 
as a treatment for dystonia, including blepharospasm," said Robert 
Lütjens, Head of Discovery Biology of Addex. "Dipraglurant is about 
to start a pivotal Phase 2b/3 clinical trial for the treatment of 
dyskinesia associated with Parkinson's disease and a Phase 2 study in 
blepharospasm patients this quarter." 
 
   Addex is developing an extended-release formulation of dipraglurant for 
the treatment of blepharospasm, a form of dystonia characterized by 
involuntary muscle contractions and spasms of the eyelid muscles 
resulting in sustained eyelid closure causing substantial visual 
disturbance or functional blindness. A placebo-controlled Phase 2 
clinical trial of dipraglurant in blepharospasm patients is scheduled to 
begin during Q2 2021. Subject to regulatory approval, Addex believes 
that dipraglurant may offer an innovative and differentiated treatment 
approach for multiple types of dystonia and presents a significant 
commercial opportunity. 
 
   About Addex Therapeutics: 
 
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Addex Therapeutics is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on 
the development and commercialization of an emerging class of novel 
orally available small molecule drugs known as allosteric modulators for 
neurological disorders. Allosteric modulators offer several potential 
advantages over conventional non-allosteric molecules and may offer an 
improved therapeutic approach to conventional "orthosteric" small 
molecule or biological drugs. Addex's allosteric modulator drug 
discovery platform targets receptors and other proteins that are 
recognized as essential for therapeutic intervention. Addex's lead 
product candidate, dipraglurant (mGlu5 negative allosteric modulator or 
NAM), is poised to start a pivotal registration clinical trial for 
Parkinson's disease levodopa induced dyskinesia (PD-LID) in Q2 2021. 
Addex is also investigating dipraglurant's therapeutic use in 
blepharospasm (a type of dystonia), for which a clinical trial is 
expected to be initiated in Q2 2021. Addex's third clinical program, 
ADX71149 (mGlu2 positive allosteric modulator or PAM), developed in 
collaboration with Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., is scheduled to enter 
a phase 2a proof of concept clinical trial for the treatment of epilepsy 
in Q2 2021. Addex's GABAB PAM program has been licensed to Indivior PLC, 
which is focused on development for the treatment of addiction. 
Preclinical programs include GABAB PAM for CMT1A, mGlu7 NAM for PTSD, 
mGlu2 NAM for mild neurocognitive disorders, mGlu4 PAM for Parkinson's 
disease and mGlu3 PAM for neurodegenerative disorders. Addex shares are 
listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and American Depositary Shares 
representing its shares are listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market, and 
trade under the ticker symbol "ADXN" on each exchange. 
 
   Press Contacts: 
 
 
 
 
Tim Dyer                   Mike Sinclair              James Carbonara 
 Chief Executive Officer    Partner, Halsin Partners   Hayden IR 
 Telephone: [phone]   [phone]        [phone] 
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   Forward Looking Statements: 
 
   This press release contains forward-looking statements within the 
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as 
amended, including in respect of the anticipated initiation and progress 
of clinical trials and preclinical studies, and its future financing 
activities. The words "may," "will," "could," "would," "should," "expect, 
" "plan," "anticipate," "intend," "believe," "estimate," "predict," 
"project," "potential," "continue," "target" and similar expressions are 
intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all 
forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Any 
forward-looking statements in this press release, are based on 
management's current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a 
number of risks, uncertainties and important factors that may cause 
actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed or 
implied by any forward-looking statements contained in this press 
release, including, without limitation, uncertainties related to market 
conditions. These and other risks and uncertainties are described in the 
Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC on March 11, 
2021, as well as market conditions and regulatory review. 
 
   Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release represent 
Addex Therapeutics' views only as of the date hereof and should not be 
relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date. Addex 
Therapeutics explicitly disclaims any obligation to update any 
forward-looking statements, except as required by law. 
 
 
 
 

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

May 17, 2021 01:00 ET (05:00 GMT)