Taiwan's biotech innovation gains global recognition. APN LifeSciences has announced a strategic investment from the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF). Founded by the family behind global beauty giant Estée Lauder, the ADDF’s backing will accelerate the development of APN 1607.

APN LifeSciences’ PET imaging agent, APN 1607, is designed to track changes in brain Tau protein deposits and enable precise diagnosis of Tau-related neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). In addition to an ongoing Phase II clinical trial for Alzheimer’s in the United States, APN 1607 has also received Orphan Drug Designation and Fast Track Designation from the U.S. FDA for a Phase III clinical trial targeting PSP. These designations highlight the FDA’s recognition of the urgent need for diagnostic tools in PSP and are expected to expedite the product’s review and approval process.

APN LifeSciences founder Dr. Ming-Kwei Chang stated that the company’s longstanding focus on the diagnosis and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases has led to this strategic investment from the ADDF. As a global leader in Alzheimer's research initiatives, the ADDF has committed over USD 250 million to more than 720 drug and biomarker development projects since its founding in 1998. The foundation is strongly supported by the Estée Lauder family, with former Estée Lauder Chairman Leonard Lauder serving as ADDF’s co-founder and current chairman.

To date, APN 1607 has accumulated over 4,000 global case studies and established a robust clinical imaging database. The company has launched a global multicenter Phase III clinical trial. APN 1607 can identify various abnormal Tau protein deposition patterns and is expected to become the gold standard for diagnosing PSP and Alzheimer’s disease in the future.

Dr. Chang emphasized that the ADDF investment affirms the technological strength of APN LifeSciences. The company will continue developing small-molecule Tau degraders capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier, aiming to eliminate pathogenic Tau proteins and offer new therapeutic approaches for neurodegenerative diseases. He added that APN is committed to applying a precision medicine model to replicate the successful strategies used in oncology for the treatment of dementia and movement disorders.

Resource: 新旭生醫 獲ADDF策略性投資