DP-109

DP-109 is a lipophilic metal chelator that was developed by D-Pharm Ltd for the potential treatment of Alzheimer's disease. It is a membrane-permeable derivative of the calcium chelator BAPTA, specifically designed to cross the blood-brain barrier and sequester transition metals such as zinc (Zn2+), copper (Cu2+), and iron (Fe3+). These metals are implicated in the neurotoxicity and aggregation of amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptides into insoluble plaques, as well as the development of cerebral amyloid angiopathy. By chelating these metal ions, DP-109 aims to prevent Aβ aggregation and facilitate the solubilization of existing amyloid deposits. Preclinical studies in transgenic mouse models (such as Tg2576) demonstrated that DP-109 could significantly reduce amyloid plaque burden and improve cognitive markers. However, the compound did not advance into late-stage clinical trials and is currently considered discontinued.