HIGH POINT, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--vTv Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq:VTVT) today announced that Larry Altstiel has joined the company as Chief Medical Officer. Altstiel brings decades of pharmaceutical industry experience and medical expertise to vTv, including serving in senior research and management roles at Pfizer Inc. and Eli Lilly Company. Most recently, Altstiel was Chief Executive Officer of Provectra Biotherapeutics where he led the company’s mission in developing gene therapy for neuro-degenerative diseases.
At Pfizer, Altstiel served as Vice President Neuroscience Clinical Development, Neuroscience Therapeutic Area Clinical Lead from 2007-2013. In this role, he was responsible for the selection, development, and oversight of multiple preclinical studies and research. Altstiel also served as Head of the Neuroscience Technical Review Committee that approved clinical research and development programs.
“We are thrilled that Larry has decided to join our company as we enter this critical phase of our trials,” said Steve Holcombe, Chief Executive Officer at vTv Therapeutics Inc. “Larry’s deep experience in Alzheimer’s clinical research as well as years of leadership in the pharmaceutical industry will help ensure our trials are executed effectively.”
Prior to joining Pfizer, Altstiel held senior research and management roles at Schwarz Biosciences Inc., Eisai Medical Research Inc., Schering-Plough and Eli Lilly and Company, where he was a Senior Clinical Research Physician and Group Leader for Neurodegenerative Diseases Clinical and discovery research for Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson’s disease, and stroke.
vTv’s lead drug candidate for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, azeliragon, is currently in its Phase 3 trial with more than 80 enrollment sites initiated throughout the U.S. and Canada. Phase 3, which is being run under a Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) from the FDA with fast track status, was initiated following a Phase 2b trial that demonstrated positive results in slowing cognitive decline in patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease.
In addition to vTv’s Alzheimer’s disease program, the Company has two potential best-in-class oral diabetes treatments currently in trials with expected data read outs in 2016.
“I'm looking forward to joining this outstanding team, which is focused on addressing such significant unmet medical needs,” Altstiel stated. “The positive signs from previous trials have put this company on a path for potentially extraordinary breakthroughs and I am excited to be a part of it.”
About vTv Therapeutics Inc.
vTv Therapeutics Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery and development of orally administered small molecule drug candidates to fill significant unmet medical needs. vTv has a pipeline of clinical drug candidates led by programs for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and Type 2 diabetes as well as treatment of inflammatory disorders and the prevention of muscle weakness.
Alzheimer’s Disease: STEADFAST Study
In May 2015, vTv announced the enrollment of the first patients into the STEADFAST study, vTv’s Phase 3 placebo controlled trial of azeliragon, an oral antagonist of the Receptor for Advanced Glycation Endproducts (RAGE) for treatment of mild Alzheimer’s disease. Phase 3 begins following a Phase 2 trial that demonstrated positive results in slowing cognitive decline with 5 mg/day of azeliragon in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. Data read outs are expected for late-2017 and mid-2018.
For more information on the STEADFAST study, click: http://www.steadfastalzheimers.com/
Diabetes: AGATA Study
In June 2015, vTv initiated dosing of the AGATA study, a phase 2b clinical trial assessing the efficacy and safety of TTP399, an oral liver-selective Glucokinase Activator (GKA), in patients with type 2 diabetes. In a phase 2a study, TTP399 demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful reduction in A1c levels compared with placebo after only 6 weeks of dosing, without induction of hypoglycemia or hyperlipidemia and with no induction of insulin secretion in patients with type 2 diabetes. Data readout is expected mid 2016.
For more information about the AGATA Study, click: http://www.myagata.com/
Diabetes: LOGRA Study
The LOGRA Phase 2 study will evaluate TTP273, which would be an orally bioavailable, potent, non-peptide agonist of GLP-1R for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. This molecule is the second generation from a path-finder molecule TTP054, and it is anticipated to provide excellent glycemic control and an attractive safety profile for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The completed Phase 1b trial in TTP273 demonstrated robust effects on postprandial & fasting glucose.
The LOGRA study is expected to start in the beginning of 2016 with data expected to read out in late-2016.