Peptron said that it has signed a licensing agreement with Harvard University to evaluate the efficacy of PT320, a treatment for Parkinson's disease, as a possible treatment candidate for Alzheimer's disease.

"After receiving a request from Mclean Hospital Harvard Medical School to confirm the efficacy of Peptron's PT320 in Alzheimer's disease treatment with its animal model, the company has decided to license out the treatment candidate to the hospital," a company official said. "Harvard's animal model is an advanced nonclinical trial most compatible with Alzheimer's disease."

The efficacy test is scheduled to begin next month, he added. Peptron plans to develop nonclinical and clinical development using Harvard University's human and physical resources if the hospital proves the efficacy of PT320 against Alzheimer's disease through this agreement.

The company stressed that the strategy is to expand the indications of PT320 and open up new markets.

PT320 is a sustained-release exenatide treatment applied with Peptron's proprietary SmartDepot technology, allowing sustained drug delivery.

"Exenatide has been confirmed to be effective in improving cognitive impairment in an animal model of Alzheimer's disease," the company said. "Also, PT320, a long-acting formulation, is expected to be an effective drug for treating Alzheimer's disease, especially due to its high blood-brain-barrier (BBB) ​​permeability."

According to the company, Alzheimer's disease has about 50 million patients worldwide, and the related market is about $18.2 billion, four times the size of the Parkinson's disease market.