New Alzheimer’s drug can ‘remove’ harmful proteins associated with the disease, experts claim

Experts have hailed a ‘significant step forward’ in the search for a treatment for Alzheimer’s after a drug was found to remove harmful proteins linked to the condition.

Tau is one of the main proteins associated with the disease and forms ‘tangles’ that can disrupt brain cells and slow down the ability to think and remember.

Now, for the first time, researchers have succeeded in lowering levels of the protein using a ‘gene silencing’ approach.

The University College London team studied 46 patients with an average age of 66 who had mild Alzheimer’s disease and elevated levels of tau.

Most received three doses of a drug called BIIB080 injected into their nervous system, and the rest received a placebo.

The drug is designed to help prevent production of the protein by “turning off” the gene that codes for it.

The journal Nature Medicine reported that those who received the highest dose had a 50 percent reduction in tau levels in their central nervous system after 24 weeks with no serious side effects.

Dr. Susan Kohlhaas, Executive Director of Research & Partnerships at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: ‘Previous research has shown that the buildup of a protein called tau in the brain is linked to neurodegeneration and diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

The drug is designed to help prevent production of the protein by “turning off” the gene that codes for it. [File image]

“In this early stage study, researchers used a new kind of approach to get a drug to ‘turn off’ a gene called the MAPT gene that makes the tau protein.

“This lowered levels of tau in people with mild Alzheimer’s disease, suggesting the drug hit the right target.” The drug was also found to be safe at the doses given in this small-scale trial.

“These early findings are promising, but there is much more to do. The next steps for this are repeating the study in a larger, more diverse population. The good news is that further work is already underway.

“A phase 2 trial of this drug is currently aiming to enroll 700 people and it will be vital to see this work replicated in this next trial and larger trials if we want this treatment approach to reach the clinic.”

“It’s an incredibly exciting time in dementia research with every new finding moving us closer to new treatments. Research like this shows how important clinical trials are if we really want to make a difference in the lives of people with dementia.

“With more work like this, research will pave the way for a cure.”