Acumen Pharmaceuticals Presents Studies Showing the Utility of a pTau217 Assay in Screening for a Phase 2 Alzheimer’s Disease Trial and Validates Sabirnetug Oligomer-Selectivity, at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) 2025

Core Insights - Acumen Pharmaceuticals has reported a 40% reduction in clinical trial screening costs through the implementation of a blood-based pTau217 screening assay in its Phase 2 ALTITUDE-AD study for early Alzheimer's disease [1][3][4] - The company’s investigational product, sabirnetug, has demonstrated superior selectivity for soluble amyloid beta oligomers (AβOs) compared to other treatments, indicating a differentiated mechanism of action [5][6] Company Overview - Acumen Pharmaceuticals is focused on developing therapies targeting toxic soluble amyloid beta oligomers (AβOs) for Alzheimer's disease, with its lead candidate being sabirnetug (ACU193) [10] - The company has received Fast Track designation from the U.S. FDA for sabirnetug, which is currently in a Phase 2 clinical trial [7][10] Clinical Trial Details - The ALTITUDE-AD trial is a multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of sabirnetug in slowing cognitive decline in early Alzheimer's disease patients [9] - The trial has enrolled 542 participants across the U.S., Canada, the EU, and the UK, with a focus on improving patient-centric and cost-effective trial execution strategies [9][2] Screening Process Efficiency - The two-step screening process using plasma pTau217 biomarker testing resulted in 48% of participants meeting the threshold for confirmatory testing, with 81% of those passing the initial screening meeting amyloid positivity eligibility [4][3] - This innovative approach has led to strong enrollment rates and reduced the need for unnecessary amyloid PET scans and lumbar punctures [4][3] Mechanism of Action - Sabirnetug targets soluble AβOs, which are believed to be a significant factor in the neurodegenerative process of Alzheimer's disease, potentially slowing neurodegeneration and preventing synapse loss [5][7] - The product has shown an 8,750-fold selectivity for Aβ1-42 stabilized oligomers over Aβ1-40 monomers, highlighting its targeted action [6]