Prana drug shows promise in Huntington's

Prana Biotechnology (ASX:PBT) said drug candidate PBT2 demonstrated signs of improving cognition in patients with Huntington’s disease during a recent phase II trial.

Results from the double blind trial show that the highest dosage group, administered 250 mg daily for 26 weeks, demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in executive function. Cognition scores for the 100 mg and placebo groups by contrast declined.

The improvement in executive function was accompanied by a small increase in a key measure of functional capacity.

MRIs of the two PBT2 treated groups showed a reduction in atrophy of brain tissue in regions of the brain affected by Huntington’s disease.

Dr Ira Shoulson, Professor of Neurology at Georgetown University and a Prana scientific advisor, said the trial marks “the first time we have observed dose-related slowing in functional decline over a six-month period of treatment”.

The trial also met its primary endpoints of demonstrating safety and efficacy.

Based on the positive results from the trial, Prana plans to apply to the US FDA to conduct a new trial in Huntington’s disease, with the goal of bringing a product to market in the next 4-5 years.

Prana Biotechnology is also developing PBT2 as an Alzheimer’s drug. The results from the Huntington’s trial lend weight to the drug candidate’s potential in this indication as well.

The results were announced by Prana Biotechnology on Tuesday and shares closed 21.31% higher at $1.110 on Wednesday. They were trading 8.34% lower at $0.857 as of around 2.30 pm on Friday.