Dr. Steven Horvath, Professor of Human Genetics at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine and Professor of Human Genetics & Biostatistics at the UCLA Field School of Public Health, is a leading authority on the study of DNA methylation, and his research publications have been cited nearly 90,000 times in peer-reviewed articles. Professor Horvath studied a large number of datasets comprised of most tissue and cell types to create the first epigenetic clock (or “biological clock” to measure “biological age”) to measure the cumulative methylation of selected sites in the genome and how this could differ from a person’s “chronological age.”
This finding that NE3107 may affect DNA methylation would be consistent with the understanding of its mechanism of action. NE3107 has been shown to modulate the expression of TNFa, which is considered to be the master regulator of inflammation.[7] Inflammation has been shown to be associated with hypermethylation of DNA,[8] which in turn has been shown to impact a wide range of diseases, including various forms of cancers,[9] age-related cognitive impairment and dementia,[10] Parkinson’s disease,[11] cardiovascular disease,10,[12] COPD and respiratory disease,[13] chronic kidney disease,[14] inflammatory bowel disease,[15] sepsis,[16] and many others.
I believe this encouraging finding that NE3107 may affect the biological markers associated with aging helps explain the results we have seen from our trials in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, both diseases are associated with aging. NE3107 has shown the ability to modulate inflammation and insulin resistance by reducing TNFa, which leads to improvements in a series of downstream factors such as metabolic dyshomeostasis, apoptosis, oxidative stress, among others. NE3107’s impact on DNA methylation helps explain the magnitude and rapid pace of impact we see in the AD and PD trials.
Overall, we are very excited with the progress of our clinical programs and the potential of advancing meaningful therapies for our patient communities. Over the course of 2022, we provided positive topline results from our AD and PD trials. Furthermore, we found that NE3107 has an unexpected impact on the biomarkers of aging-related disease states and how this may affect disease progression, which provides additional avenues of exploration for the molecule.
We are also looking forward to an exciting 2023. With respect to additional data readouts, we start with the detailed presentation of our Parkinson’s data at the AD/PD™ 2023 International Conference on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases to be held March 28-April 1, 2023 in Gothenburg, Sweden. We look forward to providing data read out from our Phase 2 trial evaluating BIV201 in ascites in the first half of the year. And we eagerly anticipate reading out the Phase 3 potentially pivotal trial for NE3107 in Alzheimer’s Disease in 3Q2023.
Given the efficacy signal detected in the Parkinson’s Phase 2 trial, we will start planning the next phase of the clinical development program for discussion with the FDA in anticipation of launching the Phase 3 for PD trials in 2023 as well.
I hope you share our enthusiasm for how the programs are advancing and the potential for exciting catalysts over the next year. We thank you for your support.
Cuong Do
President & Chief Executive Officer