Risen pharma: Risen Pharma, a clinical-stage biotech company, has initiated a Phase 2 clinical study in China for RP902, an oral small-molecule drug developed to address significant unmet medical needs in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD).

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the company stated that the trial will evaluate the safety and efficacy of RP902 in treating mild cognitive impairment associated with AD, a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects cognition and daily functioning.

Risen Pharma highlighted that Alzheimer's prevalence among individuals aged 65 and above in China has reached six per cent, with approximately one in every 17 people affected. This underscores the need for more effective and accessible therapies.

The Phase 2 study is a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, with the primary endpoint measuring changes from baseline in the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale-Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB) score. The study is being co-led by Professor Yi Tang from Xuanwu Hospital and Professor Yongjun Wang from Beijing Tiantan Hospital.

According to the company in a statement, preclinical studies showed RP902 significantly inhibited neurotoxic A€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬¦¸ oligomers and improved cognitive function. RP902 has already completed Phase 1 clinical trials, demonstrating favourable safety and tolerability, and is now advancing into Phase 2 clinical development.

Risen Pharma stated that RP902 could potentially delay disease progression while offering the convenience of oral administration and a favourable safety profile compared with existing therapies. Based on strong in-house research and development capabilities, the company has developed more than 20 innovative drug candidates across therapeutic areas including degenerative and metabolic diseases, autoimmune diseases, cancer, and infectious diseases.