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Alzheimer's Disease Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase (sEH) Inhibitor Companies
Overview
Overview
This category page covers biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies developing soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) inhibitors for Alzheimer's disease and related neurodegenerative disorders. sEH inhibitors work by increasing levels of epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs), which possess potent anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and cerebrovascular protective properties. This pathway represents a promising therapeutic target addressing neuroinflammation, cardiovascular-cerebral cross-talk, and vascular cognitive impairment that characterize AD pathogenesis. [@impreved2020]
Mechanism of Action
sEH inhibitors work through the arachidonic acid-CYP450 epoxygenase-EETs-sEH signaling axis:
- sEH Enzyme: Soluble epoxide hydrolase (encoded by EPHX2) hydrolyzes EETs to inactive dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acids (DHETs)
- EETs (Epoxyeicosatrienoic Acids): Anti-inflammatory eicosanoids derived from arachidonic acid via CYP450 epoxygenases
- sEH Inhibition: Blocking sEH preserves EET levels, enhancing their protective effects [@ghosh2020]
Therapeutic Rationale for Alzheimer's Disease
| Pathological Target | sEH Inhibitor Effect | Relevance to AD |
|---------------------|---------------------|-----------------|
| Chronic neuroinflammation | EET-mediated NF-κB inhibition, microglial modulation | [@chen2019] |
| Cerebrovascular dysfunction | Improved cerebral blood flow, endothelial protection | [@wu2013] |
| Blood-brain barrier disruption | Preserved BBB integrity via EET signaling | [@w2021] |
| Neuronal injury | Reduced oxidative stress, anti-apoptotic effects | [@kodachi2022] |
| Vascular cognitive impairment | Cardiovascular-cerebral cross-talk improvement | [@wu2013] |
| Protein aggregation | Indirect modulation of amyloid/tau pathology | [@ren2018] |
Key Companies
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) — GSK2256294
[GlaxoSmithKline](/companies/glaxosmithkline) (GSK) has developed GSK2256294, a potent and selective sEH inhibitor that has completed Phase I clinical trials.
Compound: GSK2256294
Development Status:
- Completed: Phase I trials for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Exploratory: Preclinical investigation for CNS indications including Alzheimer's disease
- Mechanism: sEH inhibition → elevated EET levels → anti-inflammatory and cerebrovascular protective effects
- Rationale: EETs reduce neuroinflammation, improve cerebral blood flow, and protect neurons
- Challenge: CNS penetration optimization for brain-targeted indications
- Notes: GSK has indicated interest in exploring sEH inhibitors for vascular cognitive impairment
EicOsis — EC 1728 and EC 5026
[EicOsis](/companies/eicosis) is a biotechnology company developing sEH inhibitors for chronic pain and diabetic neuropathy, with potential extension to neurodegenerative diseases.
Lead Compounds:
- EC 1728: sEH inhibitor for chronic pain — Phase I completed
- EC 5026: sEH inhibitor for diabetic neuropathy — Phase I completed
- Mechanism: Peripheral and central sEH inhibition
- Status: Preclinical exploration for CNS indications
- Rationale: EETs provide neuroprotection and reduce neuroinflammation in AD models
- Notes: EicOsis has a platform of sEH inhibitors with varying CNS penetration profiles
Arete Therapeutics — UC1153 (AR9281)
[Arete Therapeutics](/companies/arete-therapeutics) developed UC1153 (also known as AR9281), an sEH inhibitor that reached Phase IIa clinical trials.
Compound: UC1153 (AR9281)
Development Status:
- Completed: Phase IIa trials for hypertension
- Outcome: Development discontinued for cardiovascular indication due to pharmacokinetic challenges
- Mechanism: sEH inhibition with good oral bioavailability
- Rationale: Preclinical data supports neuroprotective effects of sEH inhibition
- Status: Available for repurposing consideration
- Notes: Chemical scaffold may be optimized for CNS applications
Pfizer — sEH Inhibitor Research
[Pfizer](/companies/pfizer) has explored sEH inhibitors in their cardiovascular and neuroscience pipelines.
Related Programs:
- Internal sEH inhibitor discovery programs
- EET analog development
- Mechanism: sEH inhibition for neuroinflammation resolution
- Status: Discovery stage
- Rationale: Addressing vascular components of AD pathophysiology
- Notes: Pfizer's neuroscience division has shown interest in neurovascular therapeutics
Merck & Co. / Merck KGaA — sEH Targeting
[Merck & Co.](/companies/merck-co) and [Merck KGaA](/companies/merck-kgaa) have explored sEH as a therapeutic target.
Related Programs:
- sEH inhibitor discovery for metabolic and cardiovascular diseases
- Combination approaches with anti-inflammatory agents
- Mechanism: Targeting sEH for neuroprotection
- Status: Preclinical/early discovery
- Notes: Leveraging experience with CNS-penetrant small molecules
AbbVie — EET Signaling Modulation
[AbbVie](/companies/abbvie) has interest in lipid mediator modulation for neurodegenerative diseases.
Related Programs:
- EET receptor agonists
- sEH inhibitors in early discovery
- Mechanism: Preserving or enhancing EET signaling
- Status: Discovery
- Notes: AbbVie's inflammation pipeline may be extended to neuroinflammation in AD
Bristol Myers Squibb — Cardiovascular-Cerebral Cross-Talk
[Bristol Myers Squibb](/companies/bristol-myers-squibb) has explored sEH inhibitors for cardiovascular indications.
Related Programs:
- sEH inhibitor discovery programs (from prior acquisitions)
- Mechanism: Vascular cognitive impairment targeting
- Status: Preclinical
- Rationale: BMS has interest in cardiovascular-cerebral connections
- Notes: May leverage compounds from cardiovascular pipeline
Research Landscape
Academic and Preclinical Groups
| Institution | Focus Area | Key Research |
|-------------|-----------|--------------|
| University of California Davis | sEH in neurodegeneration | [@impreved2020] |
| National Taiwan University | sEH deficiency and cerebral blood flow | [@ren2018] |
| Kyoto University | sEH in microglial responses | [@chen2019] |
| University of Tokyo | sEH as therapeutic target | [@kodachi2022] |
| Stanford University | EETs and cognitive function | [@wu2013] |
| Cleveland Clinic | EETs in neuroinflammation | [@ghosh2020] |
Clinical Trial Landscape
As of 2026, no sEH inhibitors have reached late-stage clinical trials for Alzheimer's disease. The development landscape includes:
- Phase I completed: GSK2256294, EC 1728, EC 5026 (non-AD indications)
- Phase II completed: UC1153 (AR9281) for hypertension
- Preclinical/Discovery: Multiple programs exploring CNS applications
- Biomarker development: EET levels in CSF, inflammatory markers
Challenges and Opportunities
Challenges:
- Achieving sufficient CNS penetration for brain-targeted effects
- Optimizing dosing for sustained EET elevation
- Long-term safety in elderly populations with AD
- Biomarker validation for target engagement in brain
- Competition from other anti-inflammatory approaches
- Addressing vascular dysfunction — an underexplored aspect of AD
- Dual anti-inflammatory and cerebrovascular protective effects
- Potential for combination with anti-amyloid and anti-tau therapies
- Repurposing potential from cardiovascular indications
- Novel mechanism distinct from existing anti-inflammatory approaches
Pipeline Summary
| Company | Compound | Mechanism | Stage | Indication |
|---------|----------|-----------|-------|------------|
| GSK | GSK2256294 | sEH inhibitor | Phase I (completed) | COPD → exploring AD |
| EicOsis | EC 1728 | sEH inhibitor | Phase I | Chronic pain |
| EicOsis | EC 5026 | sEH inhibitor | Phase I | Diabetic neuropathy |
| Arete Therapeutics | UC1153 (AR9281) | sEH inhibitor | Phase IIa | Hypertension (discontinued) |
| Pfizer | Various | sEH inhibitor | Discovery | CNS |
| Merck & Co. | Various | sEH inhibitor | Discovery | Neuroinflammation |
| AbbVie | Various | EET modulation | Discovery | AD |
| Bristol Myers Squibb | Various | sEH inhibitor | Preclinical | VCI |
Related Pages
Mechanisms
- [EET Signaling in Neurodegeneration](/mechanisms/eet-signaling-neurodegeneration)
- [Neuroinflammation Resolution](/mechanisms/neuroinflammation-resolution)
- [Cardiovascular-Cerebral Cross-Talk](/mechanisms/cardiovascular-cerebral-cross-talk)
- [Cerebral Blood Flow Regulation](/mechanisms/cerebral-blood-flow-regulation-neurodegeneration)
- [Arachidonic Acid Cascade](/mechanisms/arachidonic-acid-cascade)
Related Company Categories
- [Alzheimer's Disease sGC Modulator Companies](/companies/ad-sgc-modulator-companies) — related cGMP pathway
- [Alzheimer's Disease Neuroinflammation Companies](/companies/ad-neuroinflammation-companies) — related therapeutic area
- [Alzheimer's Disease Neurovascular Therapy Companies](/companies/ad-neurovascular-cerebral-vasculature-therapy-companies)
- [Alzheimer's Disease PDE Inhibitor Companies](/companies/ad-pde-inhibitor-companies) — related eicosanoid pathway
- [Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimmune Resolution SPM Companies](/companies/ad-neuroimmune-resolution-spm-companies)
Therapeutic Pages
- [sEH Inhibitor Therapy](/therapeutics/seh-inhibitor-therapy)
- [EET Modulation Therapy](/therapeutics/eet-modulation-therapy)
- [Neuroinflammation Therapy](/therapeutics/neuroinflammation-therapy)
- [Vascular Cognitive Impairment Therapy](/therapeutics/vascular-cognitive-impairment-therapy)
References
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