Melbourne-headquarters Living Cell Technologies (ASX: LCT) has filed a new provisional patent application over a combination drug candidate, which includes cannabidiol (CBD) and another off-patent pharmaceutical ingredient, and its use in the treatment of dementia.
The filing of a provisional patent application establishes the priority date of the invention ahead of potential competitor companies. The filing also marks the commencement of a second research and development (R&D) project for LCT.
The precursory development of the combination drug candidate, referred to as AI-116, has been overseen by the Company’s scientific team and consultants. LCT is also in advanced discussions with a major Australian university to conduct pre-clinical studies to assess AI-116, including comparing the efficacy of AI-116 to an existing class of drugs used to treat dementia.
Dementia is a term used to describe a decline in cognitive function that affects a person’s ability to perform daily activities. A person with dementia has two or more specific difficulties, including decline in memory, reasoning, language, coordination, mood and behaviour.
Causes of dementia include Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia and is characterized by the formation of amyloid plaques and tau tangles in the brain, leading to the progressive degeneration of brain cells and memory loss.
The primary focus of dementia treatment in recent decades has remained on managing symptoms and slowing the progression of the diseases underlying dementia. There has been no development of a cure for the diseases that cause dementia.
The global dementia drugs market size was valued at more than US$8.7 billion in 2021 and is projected to reach US$19.7 billion by 20231, growing at a CAGR of 8.5% from 2022 to 2031.
