New drug fails to help cognitive decline in those with inherited Alzheimer’s

AN experimental drug for Alzheimer’s disease prevention does not significantly affect cognitive decline, new research suggests.

However, the treatment did reduce markers of disease and curbed neurodegeneration in the brain. These results led researchers to offer the drug, known as Gantenerumab, to participants as part of an exploratory trial.

Scientists are continuing to monitor changes in measurements of Alzheimer’s in participants receiving the drug.

The DIAN-TU study evaluated the effects of two investigational drugs – Gantenerumab, made by Roche and its US affiliate, Genentech, and Solanezumab, made by Eli Lilly and Co – in people with a rare, inherited, early-onset form of Alzheimer’s. It is known as dominantly inherited Alzheimer’s disease (DIAD) or autosomal dominant Alzheimer’s disease.

People with this form of the disease are born with a mutation that causes Alzheimer’s, and experience declines in memory and thinking skills starting as early as their 30s or 40s. DIAD is estimated to represent less than one per cent of cases.

Principal investigator Randall Bateman, director of DIAN-TU, and Joanne Knight, distinguished professor of neurology at Washington University, 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.”

In the study, 144 people with DIAD received either Gantenerumab or Solanezumab or a placebo control for up to seven years.

Neither drug prevented or slowed cognitive decline in people who are nearly certain to develop Alzheimer’s due to genetic mutations.