InMed Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: INM) saw a significant uptick in its stock today, soaring by over 170% to $0.40, following promising news about its Alzheimer’s drug candidate, INM-901. The pharmaceutical company, known for its focus on developing treatments for diseases with high unmet medical needs, announced a major advancement in its Alzheimer’s disease program that could reshape the landscape of treatment options.
A New Hope for Alzheimer’s Treatment
INM-901, InMed’s proprietary small molecule drug candidate, has shown encouraging results in recent preclinical studies. Unlike current treatments that require intravenous (IV) or intraperitoneal (IP) injections, INM-901 can be administered orally and still achieve therapeutic levels in the brain comparable to those obtained through more invasive methods. This breakthrough suggests a potential paradigm shift in how treatments for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s could be administered in the future.
The Advantages of Oral Administration
The ability to deliver INM-901 orally not only simplifies administration but also significantly reduces treatment delivery costs compared to the IV delivery of current large molecule antibody therapies. Michael Woudenberg, InMed’s Chief Operating Officer and SVP of Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC), emphasized the importance of this development, stating, “We are excited by the recent data confirming that INM-901 can be delivered across the blood-brain barrier to the brain tissue as an oral formulation which provides significant advantages for further development of this compound in the treatment of Alzheimer’s.”
Challenges with Current Treatments
Current Alzheimer’s treatments primarily involve large molecules that pose numerous challenges, including poor GI tract absorption and the need for frequent monitoring due to potential severe side effects like brain inflammation and bleeding. These treatments require regular brain scans and are administered via IV at medical facilities, making them less accessible and more burdensome for patients.
Promising Preclinical Data
INM-901 not only crosses the blood-brain barrier effectively but also exhibits multiple pharmacological effects beneficial in treating Alzheimer’s. These include neuroprotective effects, the extension of neurites essential for brain cell communication, and a reduction in neuroinflammation. Such findings underscore the potential of INM-901 to become a foundational therapy that could significantly ease the treatment process for patients.
Ongoing Development and Future Plans
InMed is currently advancing its chemistry, manufacturing, and controls studies for both the drug substance and the drug product formulation. These include drug metabolism studies, dose-ranging studies, and pharmacokinetic studies to support an Investigational New Drug (IND) submission.
About InMed Pharmaceuticals
InMed Pharmaceuticals is not just pioneering Alzheimer’s treatment but is also developing a pipeline of proprietary small molecule drug candidates targeting CB1/CB2 receptors, with applications in ocular and dermatological conditions. The company, along with its subsidiary BayMedica, is poised to lead in the manufacturing and development of rare cannabinoids and proprietary small molecule drug candidates.
For more details on INM-901 and InMed’s innovative approach to pharmaceuticals, visit their website at InMed Pharmaceuticals.
Today’s news from InMed Pharmaceuticals heralds a new era of hope and convenience for Alzheimer’s patients, potentially transforming the way this debilitating disease is treated across the globe.
