Alto Neuroscience Replicates EEG Biomarker for Cognitive Impairment in Schizophrenia

Alto Neuroscience announced the successful replication of EEG biomarkers to identify patients with cognitive impairment in schizophrenia. The study evaluated 155 individuals with schizophrenia and 272 healthy controls, demonstrating that event-related theta-band responses, particularly theta-band inter-trial coherence, robustly differentiate patients from healthy individuals. This validation enhances the confidence in the ongoing Phase 2 trial of ALTO-101, a novel PDE4 inhibitor for treating cognitive impairment in schizophrenia.

Mountain View, California — Alto Neuroscience Inc. (NYSE: ANRO) has announced the successful replication of an electroencephalography (EEG) biomarker to identify patients with cognitive impairment in schizophrenia. The study, conducted by an independent research team, evaluated 155 individuals with schizophrenia and 272 healthy controls, demonstrating that event-related theta-band responses, particularly theta-band inter-trial coherence (ITC), robustly differentiate patients from healthy individuals [1].

The study confirmed that theta-band ITC can distinguish between schizophrenia patients and healthy individuals, with Cohen's d values of 0.64 for theta ITC and 0.78 for event-related spectral perturbation (ERSP), both with p-values less than 0.001. This validation enhances the confidence in the ongoing Phase 2 trial of ALTO-101, a novel PDE4 inhibitor for treating cognitive impairment in schizophrenia [2].

Alto Neuroscience is using theta ITC as a primary outcome measure in its Phase 2 trial of ALTO-101, an investigational PDE4 inhibitor for treating cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia (CIAS). The company previously reported that ALTO-101 demonstrated effects on theta ITC and cognition in a Phase 1 trial with healthy subjects [1].

The validation of theta ITC as a biomarker for CIAS is significant as it provides a reliable, non-invasive approach to identify specific patient populations and measure the effects of targeted therapies. Currently, no approved treatments exist for CIAS, which affects memory, attention, processing speed, and executive function in schizophrenia patients [2].

The study, which replicated previous findings, demonstrated that EEG measures of theta ITC and ERSP had the largest case-control differences, far exceeding traditional EEG and event-related potential measures in their ability to distinguish patients from healthy controls. Both theta ITC and ERSP were also significantly correlated with processing speed, a key domain of cognitive impairment in schizophrenia [2].

L. Elliot Hong, M.D., Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, commented on the findings, stating, "The clear and replicable differentiation between patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls shown by these theta-band responses represents a clear advancement. These findings may provide the field with a validated, scalable biomarker that is likely to enhance the rigor of clinical trials and holds the potential to guide clinical practice and personalize patient care in the future" [2].

Alto Neuroscience, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel precision medicines for neuropsychiatric disorders, is leveraging neurobiology to develop personalized and highly effective treatment options. The company's Precision Psychiatry Platform™ measures brain biomarkers by analyzing EEG activity, neurocognitive assessments, wearable data, and other factors to better identify which patients are more likely to respond to Alto product candidates [2].

References:
[1] https://www.streetinsider.com/Corporate+News/Alto+Neuroscience+validates+EEG+biomarker+for+schizophrenia+diagnosis/25311551.html
[2] https://www.stocktitan.net/news/ANRO/alto-neuroscience-announces-robust-replication-of-eeg-biomarker-to-d7zmifpgmtcd.html