ProteoTech is not so well known, probably because it’s managed to survive without any investor money – just public grants/funds – for a number of years.

The company’s lead product is based off an extract from the Amazonian vine Uncaria tomentosa, also known as Cat’s Claw, which is in development for Alzheimer’s disease. The compound is specifically called Exebryl-1 and is a synthetic analog of one of the components in Cat’s Claw.

Interestingly, the product has shown good efficacy in preclinical models. In transgenic mice, the drug was able to lower brain beta-amyloid protein load by greater than 30 to 50% as well as display good oral bioavailability with penetration across the blood-brain barrier.

Ultimately, it’s way too early to give the company a thumbs or down.

Of note, and more interesting to us, is the company’s second program called Synuclere. The compound is a small molecule in late pre-clinical development for Parkinson’s disease and is designed to prevent the formation and accumulation of alpha-synuclein deposits.

Alpha-synuclein deposits have been shown to play a significant role in the destruction of dopamine-producing neurons.

Also, in 2006, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research LEAPS (Linked Efforts to Accelerate Parkinson’s Solutions) awarded Proteotech a $3.1M grant to advance the program — no updates since then.

Management

Alan Snow – Chairman, President, CSO

Stephen Runnels – CEO

Dennis McCurley – COO & CFO

Investors

Public Funding via SBIRs

Michael J. Fox Foundation

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