Brandenburg Kapital Invests in Biotechnology Startup to Combat Alzheimer's Dementia

Hennigsdorf, January 18, 2022 - PAM Theragnostics GmbH announces the closing of a Series A1 financing round in the amount of €1.5 million. The new funds will be used to advance and complete the preclinical development of a drug candidate, the endogenous PAM enzyme (peptidyl-glycine alpha-amidating monooxygenase). The compound offers a novel approach to early preventive therapy in the fight against Alzheimer's dementia. Series A1 was financed by a group of private investors led by Brandenburg Kapital GmbH, a subsidiary of the Investitionsbank des Landes Brandenburg.

PAM is an endogenous enzyme that is responsible, among other things, for the final activation of a number of vital peptide hormones. These include peptide hormones that are responsible for the functionality of blood vessels, particularly in the brain, and thus maintain the functionality of the blood-brain barrier. The blood-brain barrier is a central element of the human body for protecting the brain, but is characterized by progressive damage even in early stages of dementia. By analyzing several thousand human blood samples, it has been shown that a reduction in circulating PAM precedes an Alzheimer's diagnosis by up to seven years.

"There is a massive need for alternative strategies in the fight against Alzheimer's dementia that go beyond the amyloid hypothesis," said Dr. Andreas Bergmann, ideator, founder and CEO of PAM Theragnostics GmbH. "The decisive influence of a damaged vascular system as the origin of Alzheimer's dementia has been known for a long time. Our data support this hypothesis and provide a groundbreaking mechanism for preventive therapy."

Nam Nguyen, Investment Manager at Brandenburg Kapital: "PAM Theragnostics is betting on a promising, innovative, therapeutic approach in the fight against Alzheimer's disease. Previous therapies based on the beta-amyloid hypothesis have not yet been able to achieve promising results. At the same time, it is estimated that the number of people with Alzheimer's disease will increase threefold by 2050. PAM, with its combined approach of early diagnosis and a promising biomarker for Alzheimer's disease, therefore has the best chance at establishing itself in this market."

About PAM-Theragnostics

PAM Theragnostics is a research-based company engaged in the development of therapeutic and diagnostic approaches for diseases related to the maturation of the body’s own amidated peptide hormones. PAM-T is developing the PAM enzyme as a drug candidate for preventive use against Alzheimer's dementia, as well as technologies to use the PAM enzyme as a biomarker for diagnostic and predictive purposes. PAM-T was founded in 2020 by Dr. Andreas Bergmann, CEO of PAM Theragnostics GmbH. www.pam-t.com

About Brandenburg Kapital GmbH/ ILB

Brandenburg Kapital GmbH is a subsidiary of the Investitionsbank des Landes Brandenburg (ILB). Since 1993, as the venture capital arm of ILB, it has supported Brandenburg-based companies by acquiring equity stakes and equity-like investments. As a public venture capital company, experienced lead investor and active partner, Brandenburg Kapital ensures a strong equity base for start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises in the State of Brandenburg on the basis of a stable group environment. For this purpose, the Early-stage and Growth Fund is currently available in the amount of around 100 million euros. The fund resources for the Brandenburg Kapital fund, which was set up on behalf of the Brandenburg Ministry of Economics, are currently provided by the European Fund for Regional Development and by the ILB. Through the investment activities of the ILB, 232 companies have been supported so far on their growth course with around 256 million euros. In addition, private investors have invested more than 525 million euros in the companies to date.

Further information is available at: www.brandenburg-kapital.de