During early stages of Alzheimers, synapse loss is the main driver of cognition and function loss in patients. Over the past decade, principals of Allyx Therapeutics have mapped out the mechanism for synapse loss. Central to this process is activation of Cellular Prion Protein (PrPC) and the metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5). Blockade of either protein target is capable of reversing learning and memory deficits while rescuing synapse loss. It is the judgment of Allyx principals that this approach is capable of delivering a disease modifying approach that supports/ preserves cognition in human patients. The firm's lead program, ALX-001, is an orally bioavailable small molecule which acts as a silent allosteric modulator (SAM) of mGluR5. ALX-001 has progressed to IND submission and a Phase 1 clinical study began Q1 2021.
