CNM-Au8’s Impact on Survival, Energetic Dysfunction in ALS: Michael Hotchkin

WATCH TIME: 3 minutes

"CNM-Au8 is able to increase energetic support, acting as a catalyst or intracellular catalyst, supporting energy production in neurons. We’re seeing it across a variety of disease states and a variety of preclinical and clinical data sets that CNM-Au8 appears to help neuronal health and neuronal survival."

Treatment options remain among the top priority for patients and caregivers of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), as only 2 drugs—edaravone (Radicava; Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma) and riluzole (Rilutek; Sanofi)—have been approved to slow disease progression and improve survival. CNM-Au8 (Clene Nanomedicine), a suspension of clean-surfaced, catalytically active gold nanocrystals, presents as a new potential therapeutic, as it has shown to enhance neuronal metabolic energy, reduce oxidative stress, and improve protein homeostasis.

The ALS agent was most recently evaluated in a pivotal 45-patient, phase 2 study called RESCUE-ALS (NCT04098406). Here, patients were treated with either 30 mg of CNM-Au8 or placebo for 36 weeks, followed by an open-label extension, with change in the summated motor unit index scores as the primary end point. Although it did not reach statistical significance, a new analysis presented at the 2022 American Academy of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM) annual meeting, September 21-24, in Nashville, Tennessee, highlighted the significant impact the therapeutic has on survival.

To learn more about the results, NeurologyLive^® sat down with Michael Hotchkin, chief development officer, Clene Nanomedicine. Hotchkin provided insight on the highlights the clinical community should be aware of, including the 70% decreased risk of mortality, as well as why the agent’s mechanism of action poses as a promising approach to treating ALS.

Click here for more coverage of AANEM 2022.

REFERENCE
1. Vucic S, Menon P, Huynh W, et al. Evidence for a Potential Survival Benefit in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis with CNM-Au8 Treatment: Interim Results From the RESCUE-ALS Trial Long-term Open Label Extension. Presented at: AANEM 2022; September 21-24; Nashville, TN. Abstract 206.