Addex Selective mGlu2 PAM ADX71149 Included in Review Highlighting Promising Investigative Drugs for Epilepsy (Review Published in Epilepsia Journal)


Geneva, Switzerland, 2 October 2018 – Addex Therapeutics (SIX: ADXN), a leading company pioneering allosteric modulation-based drug discovery and development, announced today that its selective metabotropic glutamate type 2 (mGlu2) receptor positive allosteric modulator (PAM), ADX71149 (JNJ-40411813), was included in a review of 13 of the latest advances related to the discovery and development of drugs aimed at improving the management of people with epilepsy. The review, titled “Progress report on new antiepileptic drugs: A summary of the Fourteenth Eilat Conference on New Antiepileptic Drugs and Devices (EILAT XIV). I. Drugs in preclinical and early clinical development”, was published in October issue of Epilepsia. ADX71149 is licensed to Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc., and is currently being prepared for a Phase 2 study in patients with epilepsy.

Regulation of glutamate release through modulation of glutamate signalling could provide a new therapeutic avenue in the treatment of epilepsy. The mGlu2 receptor autoregulates glutamate release in the brain. This suggests that mGlu2 agonists and positive allosteric modulators (PAMs), such as ADX71149, would have antiseizure properties. The review profiles the pharmacological, preclinical and early clinical data obtained to date with ADX71149. Phase I studies in several hundred individuals found ADX71149 to be safe and well tolerated.

“Inclusion in this review of innovative drugs for treating epilepsy emphasizes the distinct allosteric approach taken by Addex and our partner Janssen,” said Robert Lütjens, co-head of discovery at Addex. “We are looking forward to investigating ADX71149 in the next stage of clinical development in patients with epilepsy.”

About ADX71149 and the Addex/Janssen Agreement
ADX71149 is a novel, first-in-class, potent, oral small molecule positive allosteric modulator (PAM) of metabotropic glutamate receptor 2 (mGluR2), a Family C class of G Protein Coupled Receptor (GPCR). The development of ADX71149 is part of a worldwide research collaboration and license agreement between Addex and Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to discover, develop and commercialize a novel mGluR2 PAM medications for the treatment of anxiety, schizophrenia, epilepsy and other undisclosed indications. Under the terms of the agreement, Addex is eligible for up to a total of €112 million in milestone payments based on potential development and regulatory achievements. In addition, Addex is eligible for low double-digit royalties on sales of any mGluR2 PAM medication developed under the agreement.

About Addex Therapeutics

Addex Therapeutics (www.addextherapeutics.com) is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel, orally available, small molecule allosteric modulators for neurological disorders. Allosteric modulators are an emerging class of small molecule drugs which have the potential to be more specific and confer significant therapeutic advantages over conventional "orthosteric" small molecule or biological drugs. Addex' allosteric modulator drug discovery platform targets receptors and other proteins that are recognized as essential for therapeutic intervention - the Addex pipeline has been generated from this pioneering allosteric modulator drug discovery platform. Addex's lead drug candidate, dipraglurant (mGluR5 negative allosteric modulator or NAM) has successfully completed a Phase 2a POC in Parkinson's disease levodopa-induced dyskinesia (PD-LID), and is being prepared to enter registration trials for PD-LID. In parallel, dipraglurant's therapeutic use in dystonia is being investigated. Addex's second clinical program, ADX71149 (mGluR2 positive allosteric modulator or PAM) is being developed in collaboration with Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc for epilepsy. In addition, ADX71441 (GABAB receptor PAM) program was awarded a $5.3 million grant by the US National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA, a division of National Institutes of Health (NIH)) to support human studies in cocaine addiction and has been licensed to Indivior. Discovery allosteric modulator programs include mGluR4PAM, mGluR7NAM, TrkBPAM and mGluR3PAM.

Press Contacts:
For Addex Therapeutics

Tim Dyer
Chief Executive Officer
Telephone: +41 22 884 15 55
Email: PR@addextherapeutics.com
Mike Sinclair
Partner, Halsin Partners
+44 (0)20 7318 2955
msinclair@halsin.com

Disclaimer / Forward-looking statements: This communication does not constitute an offer or invitation to subscribe for or purchase any securities of Addex Therapeutics Ltd. This publication may contain certain forward-looking statements concerning the Company and its business. Such statements involve certain risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements. Readers should therefore not place undue reliance on these statements, particularly not in connection with any contract or investment decision. The Company disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.