Aphios Corporation

Bryostatin 1 for Alzheimer’s Disease and Cognitive Disorders

The symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease are associated with gradual brain tissue shrinkage and death. In the early stage of the disease, short-term memory and the ability to perform routine tasks begin to decline with degeneration of cells in the hippocampus. As Alzheimer’s Disease spread through the cerebral cortex, judgment declines, emotional outbursts may occur and language is impaired. Progression of the disease leads to the death of more nerve cells and progressively worsening behavior changes such as wandering and agitation. In the final stages, patients lose the ability to recognize faces, communicate, and control bladder and bowel movements. The average time from diagnosis to death is 4 to 8 years, although it may take 20 years or more for the disease to run its course. While there is some understanding of the disorder, there is still a lack of preventative and therapeutic remedies.

Recently, researchers at The Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute, Rockville, MD have hypothesized and shown that protein kinase C (PKC) and its activation are important means of ameliorating AD pathophysiology and cognitive impairment. They have shown that sub-nanomolar concentrations of bryostatin 1, a potent PKC activator, dramatically enhance the generation of non-amyloidogenic soluble amyloid precursor protein (sAPP) in fibroblasts from AD patients. Bryostatin 1 was effective in reducing brain amyloid plaques (Aß40 and Aß42 in AD) in double-transgenic mice while improving behavioral outcomes and the rate of premature death (U.S. Patent). These researchers have also shown that bryostatin 1 not only produces a neuroprotective effect but also enhances cognitive memory in AD animal models.

Aphios has developed and patented improved methodologies and manufacturing processes for the isolation of bryostatin 1 from Bugula neritina (U.S. Patent). Aphios currently sells pharmaceutical-grade bryostatin 1 and other bryostatins to reagent-distribution companies such as Sigma-Aldrich, PKC Pharmaceuticals, Axxora and Biomol. Aphios has also developed and patented improved methods for formulating bryostatin 1 into phosopholipid nanosomes, Bryosomes™ (U.S., Patent) that can be utilized to enhance efficacy, reduce toxicity and improve quality-of-life.