CB 401

CB 401 refers to at least two distinct investigational drugs in development by different companies. The most prominent and advanced is a small molecule developed by Cantabio Pharmaceuticals targeting amyloid beta for neurodegenerative diseases. This version of CB 401 acts as an amyloid beta-protein modulator and was originally licensed from the University of Cambridge, with origins also involving Elan Pharmaceuticals, Max Planck Research Unit for Structural Molecular Biology, and NovALiX. It has been investigated as an antidementia agent (notably for Alzheimer's disease) and as a diagnostic agent in Parkinson's disease. Its mechanism involves modulation of amyloid beta protein aggregation or toxicity. A second unrelated drug named CB-401 is being developed by Crescendo Biologics; this is a next-generation T-cell activator based on recombinant fusion proteins (Humabody technology), intended as an immunotherapy/antineoplastic agent for cancer indications. This version functions as an immunomodulator and T lymphocyte stimulant. A third unrelated candidate called CB-401 from Cascade Biotechnology appears to be a protein drug in early discovery stages with potential applications in neoplasms, immune system diseases, nervous system diseases (including myasthenia gravis), but no detailed mechanism or structure has been disclosed. This entry focuses on the Cantabio Pharmaceuticals small molecule targeting amyloid beta unless otherwise specified.