First ever CURE for Alzheimer’s disease is on the horizon – as new drug ‘is safe and effective’
Current treatments only relieve the symptoms of the debilitating brain disease, which affects 850,000 Brits.
THE FIRST cure for Alzheimer’s could be on the horizon after a drug proved both safe and effective in early clinical trials.
Current treatments only relieve the symptoms of the degenerative brain disease, which affects 850,000 Brits.
Previous attempts to tackle the underlying cause were dashed after therapies proved to be ineffective or too toxic.
But researchers from the Merck Research Laboratories, in the United States, have now developed a drug that reduces the build-up of the sticky proteins that kill off brain cells.
And the medication – named verubecestat – has also proven to be safe in humans.
It is now being tested in further trials, with the results expected to be known next year.
The sticky proteins, known as Amyloid plaques, are a key hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease.
Dr Clare Walton, Research Manager at Alzheimer’s Society, said: “This study describes a new drug that reduces the production of amyloid in people with dementia and, importantly, it appears to be safer than similar drugs that have come before.
“This finding has paved the way for much larger clinical trials that are currently underway, and we very much look forward to the results of these in the coming years.”
Dr Rosa Sancho, Head of Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “It has been over a decade since a new drug was licenced for the treatment of dementia, so we urgently need new medicines that can provide real benefit for people living with dementia.
If it proves successful, it could be an important weapon in the arsenal for doctors treating the disease in future
Dr Rosa Sancho, Alzheimer’s Research UK
“In this small phase 1 clinical trial, verubecestat was able to reduce the levels of a key Alzheimer’s protein, but it remains to be seen whether this translates into slower memory decline for people with the disease.
“As verubecestat works differently to other drugs currently being tested for Alzheimer’s, if it proves successful, it could be an important weapon in the arsenal for doctors treating the disease in future.
“Alzheimer’s is a complex and devastating disease and so a multi-pronged approach may give us the best chance of tackling it in the coming years.”
The findings of the trial – on 32 participants – are published in the journal Science Translational Medicine.