Yet another amyloid plaques based approach to treating Alzheimer's disease has failed.
The theory that preventing or reducing amyloid plaques in the brain can used to treat Alzheimer's disease, has long been an accepted approach.
After a series of high-profile failures, the theory is once again coming under renewed scrutiny.
Amyloid Plaques
In two phase 3 trials, Roche's drug gantenerumab, did not demonstrate a benefit in the rate of cognitive or functional decline of patients. The drug did not seem to significantly lower amyloid plaques in patients.
The results of these two trials adds additional uncertainty to the amyloid plaques hypothesis. Researchers are now exploring a range non-amyloid therapies for Alzheimer’s disease.
The one bright spot for amyloid plaques based approaches was the Eisai and Biogen drug Lecanemab. In a phase 3 trial Lecanemab recently showed a 27% slowing of cognitive decline versus a placebo.
While amyloid plaques based approaches remain a central part of therapeutic efforts, it seems there is renewed interest in other potential therapies that go beyond that hypothesis.