Study finds experimental drug lessened plaque numbers in the brain linked to dementia but did not prevent or slow cognitive decline

New research has suggested that an experimental drug for Alzheimer’s had mixed results, reducing biomarkers of the disease without significantly affecting cognitive decline.

In a clinical trial led by a team at Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis, patients were given a drug called gantenerumab.

The results of the trial showed that there was a reduction in plaques that smother neurons in the brain as well as curbed neurodegeneration, but patients were no less likely to have lapses in memory.

These results come as a separate drug, aducanumab received approval for use by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) despite criticisms about whether or not it was actually effective.

However, despite the limited showing in preventing cognitive decline, scientists are still hopeful the drug can be used to treat and combat Alzheimer’s.

Principal investigator Dr Randall Bateman, said “Gantenerumab had a major impact on Alzheimer’s biomarkers. The drug’s ability to shift multiple Alzheimer’s biomarkers toward normal indicates that it is positively affecting the disease process.

“The effect was strong enough that we launched an open-label extension of the trial so participants have the opportunity to stay on the drug as we continue to study it.

Dr Bateman went on to say “Although the trial focuses on people with rare mutations, drugs that are successful in this population would be promising candidates for preventing or treating the forms of Alzheimer’s that occur more commonly in older adults.

“The destructive molecular and cellular processes in the brain are similar in both types of the disease.”

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Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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