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Beta amyloid
immunotherapy may be helpful in treating Alzheimer's disease,
according to a study presented July 21 at the 9th International
Conference on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders in
Philadelphia.
Immunotherapy
works by triggering the body's own natural defenses to fight
off the disease.
The findings
result from a clinical trial involving the experimental drug
compound known as AN-1792, which was being developed by the
Elan Corporation and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals.
AN-1792
is a synthetic form of the beta amyloid peptide that builds
up in the brains of persons with Alzheimer's disease. Development
of the drug was halted after some patients receiving the drug
developed encephalitis.
Using
an immunologic approach to clear beta amyloid from the brain,
AN-1792 reduced beta amyloid plaque in three autopsy examinations
of patients treated with the drug. Researchers also found
that Alzheimer's patients treated with AN-1792 performed better
on memory tests than those who received a placebo.
"These
results are significant because they suggest that it may be
possible to reduce plaque buildup in the brain and alter the
pathologic findings of patients with Alzheimer's disease,"
said Dale Schenk, PhD, Elan's senior vice president and chief
scientific officer. "These data offer hope that beta
amyloid immunotherapy may be able to make a meaningful difference
for these patients."
"The
significance of any of these data individually is not clear;
however, collectively the study results from AN-1792 underscore
the importance of our novel immunotherapeutic approach to
the treatment of this devastating disease and indicate that
further study of this approach is warranted," said
Gary L. Stiles, MD.
Wyeth's
chief medical officer, said the study results collectively
underscore the importance of an innumotherapeutic approach
to Alzheimer's disease. He said Elan and Wyeth are currently
pursuing beta amyloid immunotherapy for mild to moderate Alzheimer's
disease with a new compound known as AAB-001, a humanized
monoclonal antibody that binds to and clears beta amyloid
peptide.
This compound
is designed to provide the anti beta amyloid antibodies directly
to the patient, rather than requiring the patient to mount
an immune response.
Source:
Medical Week staff, week of July 26, 2004
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