Invex Therapeutics (ASX:IXC) finds new promise for alzheimer’s treatment with exenatide in 3D brain model

Invex Therapeutics (ASX:IXC) may be better known for tackling neurological conditions associated with raised intracranial pressure, but its latest findings hint at a much broader application for its flagship drug, Exenatide.

In collaboration with Tessara Therapeutics, Invex tested Exenatide on ADBrain™, a 3D human brain model replicating the neurodegeneration seen in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD).

The results showed promising protective effects against key pathways of neuronal cell death—a potential breakthrough in a global Alzheimer’s treatment market worth US$17 billion​.

Key Findings

• Exenatide increased cell survival by 24% at low doses when exposed to oxidative stress conditions—similar to those seen in Alzheimer’s patients.
• In a model replicating ferroptosis—a distinct iron-dependent cell death process—Exenatide improved cell viability by 45% at moderate doses​.
• The drug was well tolerated across all tested concentrations in ADBrain™ models, a critical step toward therapeutic validation.

Ferroptosis has increasingly emerged as a significant contributor to Alzheimer’s pathology, linked to excessive reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation.

With hallmarks such as iron accumulation and reduced antioxidant defences seen in AD brains, targeting this pathway offers a compelling treatment approach.

Invex Therapeutics Executive Director Dr Thomas Duthy remarked on the importance of these results:

“This is the first time a GLP-1 receptor agonist, namely Exenatide, has shown evidence of benefit in a three-dimensional human brain model of Alzheimer’s Disease.”

The findings align with emerging clinical data suggesting that GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs)—a class of drugs traditionally used to manage type 2 diabetes—may slow Alzheimer’s progression.

In some studies, GLP-1RAs have shown the potential to reduce brain atrophy in regions controlling memory and learning by up to 50%​.

A Broader Horizon

While Invex initially focused on Exenatide’s role in neurological conditions involving intracranial pressure, these results open the door to a broader neurological portfolio, including other conditions linked to ferroptosis such as Parkinson’s Disease and traumatic brain injury.

Tessara’s ADBrain™ platform has been pivotal to these findings, providing a more physiologically relevant model than traditional cell assays.

The collaboration not only strengthens Invex’s case for repurposing Exenatide but also showcases the value of cutting-edge 3D tissue technology in accelerating neurological research.

For Invex, the next steps will likely involve further pre-clinical exploration and an eventual path toward human trials.

Given that Exenatide is already approved for diabetes, the regulatory hurdles are lower compared to entirely new compounds—an advantage that cannot be overlooked.

While the path from pre-clinical discovery to clinical application is rarely smooth, Invex’s findings represent a rare spark of promise in the battle against Alzheimer’s Disease—one of medicine’s most intractable challenges.