Next stage of trials for Alzheimer’s vaccine

A vaccine that could treat patients with Alzheimer’s disease has reached the next stage of clinical trials.

ACI-24, by Swiss pharmaceutical firm AC Immune, will be tested on patients with a mild or moderate form of the condition.

Charity Alzheimer’s Research UK said the vaccine represents an “interesting approach”.

Dr Carol Routledge, director of research for the charity, said: “While it is fantastic to see this potential treatment making progress in Phase I clinical trials, we still need to see extensive Phase II and III testing before we can tell whether this experimental drug is safe and effective.

“The ACI-24 vaccine is designed to alert the body’s own immune system to the hallmark Alzheimer’s protein, amyloid, and trigger a response that could help to clear the protein from the brain.”