Newswise — Preventive Alzheimer's disease trials just made a leap forward. Researchers leading the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer's Network (DIAN) announced that two pharma companies have agreed to donate three investigational drugs and at least partially fund a five-year therapy trial to test those drugs side by side in people who are destined by genetics to develop early-onset Alzheimer's disease. Such trials directly comparing drugs by different companies have been done in cancer but are unprecedented in the field of Alzheimer's research. One of the therapeutics is a small molecule designed to reduce amyloid beta production by blocking the enzyme BACE-1; two are monoclonal antibodies. One of those antibodies, solanezumab, recently evoked a small benefit in people with mild Alzheimer's in a large clinical trial. The other one, gantenerumab, is currently in a separate phase 2/3 trial in prodromal AD, the earliest form of disease that is being diagnosed these days. The DIAN trials will be done in people at much earlier stages of disease, where researchers hope all anti-amyloid drugs will be more effective. All these trial rely on biological markers to ensure trial participants actually have amyloid pathology. For the whole story on this paradigm shift in the Alzheimer's field, complete with testimony of family members who are participating in DIAN and eagerly waiting for trials, see Alforum’s latest series on DIAN, and solanezumab.
About Alzforum: The Alzheimer Research Forum (www.alzforum.org), founded in 1996, is the web's most dynamic scientific community dedicated to understanding Alzheimer disease and related disorders. Access to the web site is free to all. The Forum’s editorial priorities are as diverse as the needs of the research community. The web site reports on the latest scientific findings, from basic research to clinical trials; creates and maintains public databases of essential research data and reagents; and produces discussion forums to promote debate, speed the dissemination of new ideas, and break down barriers across the numerous disciplines that can contribute to the global effort to cure Alzheimer's disease.
The ARF team of professional science writers and editors, information technology experts, web developers and producers all work closely with its distinguished and diverse Advisory Board to ensure a high quality of information and services. The Alzheimer Research Forum is an independent nonprofit organization supported by grants and individual donations. The web site does not endorse any specific product or scientific approach.
RSS