SCOTS PROF’S DRUG HALTS ALZHEIMER’S
Tests show treatment worked in slowing brain deterioration in those with disease
BRAIN deterioration caused by Alzheimer’s has been delayed with a drug invented by a Scottish professor.
Scientists trialling a treatment called LMTX were able to slow the progression of dementia over 15 months for the first time.
When the drug was the only treatment patients took, it had a beneficial effect on key measures of Alzheimer’s – such as memory – for those with mild or moderate forms of the disease.
The trial of 136 patients saw participants take the drug as a pill twice a day.
But in a bigger trial, patients taking other drugs alongside LMTX did not see the same benefit.
Doug Brown, director of research at the Alzheimer’s Society, said: “After years of failure we are now starting to see glimmers of hope. But there are a lot of questions to answer before we know how promising this treatment could be.”
The results were unveiled to the world at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Toronto, Canada.
Claude Wischik, professor of psychiatric geratology at Aberdeen University, developed the drug through company TauRx Therapeutics.
He said: “The results we have seen in this study confirm the results we saw in our phase two study, where an earlier version of the drug was also given as monotherapy.
“The results we see in those patients not taking Alzheimer’s medications show the considerable potential of LMTX for both mild and moderate Alzheimer’s disease.”
LMTX is based on the structure of a chemical called methylene blue, which is used as a dye in research and to aid surgery.
The chief scientific officer at Alzheimer’s Research UK said the results were the “silver lining” of a study which did not meet its main goals.
David Reynolds added: “The idea that a drug based on a common dye could target one of the processes driving Alzheimer’s was suggested well over 10 years ago, so it’s positive to see LMTM being tested in people.”