Progressive Supranuclear Palsy

Background

Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) is a rare neurodegenerative disorder that affects walking, balance, and eye movements. Characteristics include primarily vertical gaze dysfunction accompanied by motor symptoms (involuntary muscle movements), speech disorders and cognitive dysfunction. PSP is as common a condition as motor neuron disease or multiple system atrophy (MSA) and is often misdiagnosed as Parkinson’s disease, corticobasal degeneration (CBD) or Alzheimer’s disease.

The cause of PSP is unknown, although the protein known as tau is found to accumulate in affected brain cells. There are currently no approved treatments to stop, slow, or reverse its progression, and the drugs that are used to symptomatically provide relief are usually only effective for a brief period of time.

PSP is estimated to affect approximately 20,000 people in the U.S. alone, generally becomes manifest in people over 60 years old, and the median survival from first appearance of symptoms is approximately 6-7 years.

Products in Development

New Amsterdam Sciences is currently developing a potential treatment that lowers reactive oxygen species (ROS) which have been associated with the disease. We are anticipating moving into a Phase 1B/2A clinical trial for our lead compound, NAS150, which is a SOD mimetic, anti-oxidant compound being developed for PSP.

For additional information on the products being developed for this indication, please contact us.