Alkahest

Alkahest is a private biotechnology company based in San Carlos, California that was founded in 2014 by Tony Wyss-Coray. The company develops therapies derived from human blood and its components. It focuses on improving vitality and function into old age. Current developments include working on treatments for diseases of aging, with an emphasis on cognitive dysfunction and dementia.

Alkahest's research has demonstrated that factors present in young plasma are able to improve brain deficits in pre-clinical models relevant to aging and Alzheimer's. The company is conducting clinical studies in patients with different types of dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases.

Two main products in development, AKST/GRF6019 and AKST4290, are entering Phase 2 of clinical trials.

AKST/GRF6019 is a proprietary human plasma fraction that has shown evidence of enhancing neurogenesis and improve learning and memory in animals. It has several potential advantages over whole plasma. Clinical trials are being conducted for it's effects on Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease. The product is manufactured by Grifols, one of the world's largest producers of FDA approved blood and plasma derived products.

AKST4290 is a small molecule that is orally administered. Its purpose is to inhibit the interaction of CCL11, an inflammatory protein that has been implicated in a number of age related disease. Currently, Phase 2 clinical trials are being run with patients suffering from Wet AMD. It has also concluded Phase 1 clinical trials for a number of other neurodegenerative and inflammatory diseases related to aging.

On May 21, 2018 Alkahest received a grant worth an undisclosed amount from the Michael J. Fox Foundation.