AMG-8718 is a potent and orally efficacious BACE1 inhibitor. AMG-8718 produced robust and sustained reductions of CSF and brain Aβ levels in a rat pharmacodynamic model and exhibited significantly reduced potential for QTc elongation in a cardiovascular safety model. BACE1 (β-secretase, memapsin 2, Asp2) has emerged as a promising target for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. BACE1 is an aspartic protease which functions in the first step of the pathway leading to the production and deposition of amyloid-β peptide (Aβ). BACE1 inhibition has direct implications in the Alzheimer's disease pathology without largely affecting viability.
