FDA approves AChEI ALPHA-1062 for Alzheimer’s disease treatment

On July 29, 2024, the U.S. FDA approved Alpha Cognition Inc.

's ALPHA-1062 (Zunveyl ® ), an Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor, for treating mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease. This condition affects approximately 6.7 million people in the United States.

Over 70 % of physicians are dissatisfied with current therapies due to side effects and limited efficacy , with over 50 % of patients discontinuing treatment within a year. As research on AChEIs advances, the importance of ALPHA-1062 and similar molecules as therapeutic options for neurodegenerative disorders becomes increasingly evident. Image Credit: Sino Biological Inc.

Mechanism of action Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) breaks down the neurotransmitter acetylcholine into choline and acetate at synaptic junctions. This process is crucial for terminating synaptic transmission, especially at neuromuscular junctions and cholinergic synapses in the nervous system. AChE's mechanism of action involves two critical sites: the anionic site and the esteratic site.

Related Stories Sino Biological finalizes the acquisition of SignalChem Biotech, strengthening global presence and expanding product portfolio FDA accepted PD-L1 inhibitor durvalumab for the treatment of endometrial cancer FDA approved PDE4 inhibitor roflumilast for atopic dermatitis Anionic Site: This site initially attracts and binds acetylcholine, facilitated by its positively charged quaternary amine, which interacts with the negatively charged environment of the a.