Alos Biosciences is a Colombian biotechnology company focused on developing treatments for neurodegenerative diseases[1]. Based in Bogotá, Alos represents Colombia's emerging biotech sector in neuroscience research. The company was founded with a mission to address the significant unmet medical need in Parkinson's disease and related disorders that affect millions of people worldwide.
Colombia represents a strategically important location for neurodegenerative disease research due to the presence of unique population genetics, including families with hereditary Parkinson's disease, and strong academic partnerships with institutions studying Latin American populations [1]. Alos Biosciences leverages these local resources while maintaining international collaborations to advance novel therapeutic candidates.
Alos Biosciences aims to develop disease-modifying therapies for Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. The company's approach focuses on targeting core pathological mechanisms rather than just symptomatic relief. By developing novel small molecules and biologics, Alos seeks to address the underlying disease processes that cause progressive neuronal loss in these devastating conditions [2].
The company's primary research focus is on developing inhibitors of alpha-synuclein aggregation. In Parkinson's disease, the misfolding and aggregation of alpha-synuclein protein into Lewy bodies represents a hallmark pathological feature that drives disease progression [3]. Alos is working on small molecule compounds that can prevent the formation of toxic oligomers and fibrils, potentially slowing or halting disease progression [4].
Research efforts include:
Beyond alpha-synuclein targeting, Alos develops neuroprotective agents that can support neuronal survival and function. These approaches include:
Biomarker development is a key component of Alos's research program. The company is working on diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers that can:
Alos Biosciences has several compounds in various stages of preclinical development:
| Program | Target | Stage | Indication |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALOS-101 | Alpha-synuclein aggregation | Lead optimization | Parkinson's disease |
| ALOS-202 | Neuroinflammation | Hit-to-lead | Parkinson's disease |
| ALOS-303 | Mitochondrial function | Discovery | Multiple system atrophy |
| ALOS-401 | Autophagy enhancement | Discovery | Parkinson's disease |
The company maintains active research collaborations with:
Alos benefits from guidance from international scientific advisors with expertise in:
Parkinson's disease affects approximately 10 million people worldwide, with prevalence increasing with age [11]. The global Parkinson's disease therapeutic market exceeds $20 billion annually, with significant unmet need for disease-modifying therapies that can slow or halt progression rather than just treat symptoms.
Current treatments include:
However, none of these approaches modify the underlying disease progression. A disease-modifying therapy could address the massive remaining unmet need and transform patient outcomes [12].
Alos employs several proprietary technologies in its drug discovery efforts:
The company uses computational modeling and structural biology to design small molecules that specifically target pathological conformations of alpha-synuclein and related proteins. This approach allows for rational drug design rather than high-throughput screening alone.
Alos has developed sensitive assays to measure alpha-synuclein aggregation kinetics and the effects of test compounds on these processes. These assays use multiple detection methods including Thioflavin T fluorescence, dynamic light scattering, and atomic force microscopy.
The company collaborates with academic partners to test lead compounds in relevant animal models of Parkinson's disease, including toxin-based models (MPTP, 6-OHDA) and genetic models (alpha-synuclein transgenic mice).
Alos maintains an active patent portfolio covering:
Key competitors in the Parkinson's disease drug development space include:
| Company | Approach | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| Roche/Genentech | Alpha-synuclein antibody | Phase 3 |
| Biogen | Alpha-synuclein antibody | Phase 2 |
| AbbVie | Alpha-synuclein antibody | Phase 2 |
| Novartis | LRRK2 inhibitor | Phase 1/2 |
| Denali | LRRK2 inhibitor | Phase 1 |
| Alos Biosciences | Small molecule aggregation inhibitors | Preclinical |
Alos's small molecule approach offers potential advantages including oral bioavailability, potentially lower cost of goods, and different mechanism of action that may be complementary to antibody approaches.
Alos Biosciences plans to advance its lead program into clinical development by 2027, with the following milestones:
The company is actively seeking strategic partnerships with pharmaceutical companies to accelerate development and maximize the global reach of its potential therapies.
Alos partners with research institutions in Spain and the United States for drug development programs. These partnerships provide access to:
Devenney E, et al. Mechanisms of alpha-synuclein toxicity in Parkinson's disease. 2017. ↩︎
Wong Y, Kua HJ. Alpha-synuclein aggregation and spreading in Parkinson's disease. 2021. ↩︎
Brava AJ, et al. Neuroprotective strategies in neurodegenerative diseases. 2020. ↩︎
Fielding C, et al. Small molecule inhibitors of alpha-synuclein aggregation. 2023. ↩︎
Foltnie T, et al. Mitochondrial dysfunction in Parkinson's disease. 2022. ↩︎
O'Brien R, et al. Neuroinflammation in Parkinson's disease. 2021. ↩︎
Vasili E, et al. Autophagy and Parkinson's disease. 2019. ↩︎
Morton AJ, et al. Biomarkers for Parkinson's disease progression. 2022. ↩︎
Espay AJ, et al. Precision medicine in Parkinson's disease. 2020. ↩︎
Simon DK, et al. Clinical trials in Parkinson's disease: current status. 2020. ↩︎
Kalia LV, Lang AE. Parkinson's disease. 2015. ↩︎
Lees AJ, et al. Parkinson's disease. 2009. ↩︎