FROM THE 2016 ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
FIRST PHASE 3 STUDY OF TAU-TARGETING DRUG IN ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE
PR Newswire, TORONTO, WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2016
Important clinical trial results in Alzheimer’s disease and dementia were reported today at the 2016 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC 2016) in Toronto, Canada – including the first completed Phase 3 trial of an anti-tau drug in Alzheimer’s.
A clinical trial of LMTM (TauRx Therapeutics, Ltd.) in people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's failed to demonstrate a treatment benefit in the primary analysis of the full study population in both doses tested. However, in a pre-planned analysis of a small subgroup of the study population that received LMTM as a monotherapy, there was a statistically significant benefit on cognitive and functional outcomes, and slowing of brain atrophy. The study drug is thought to reduce the accumulation of the protein tau, which normally stabilizes neurons, into potentially toxic tangles.
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“It is a significant event in the history of Alzheimer’s and dementia research that this Phase 3 anti-tau trial has been completed and the results reported at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference,” said Maria C. Carrillo, PhD, Alzheimer’s Association chief science officer. “In Alzheimer’s, the most likely scenario for successful future treatment is addressing the disease from multiple angles. Having a drug that targets tau complete a Phase 3 trial is a very hopeful sign.”
Carrillo added, “We learn a great deal from every clinical trial – for example, about how to best conduct therapy trials in older populations, how to recruit participants and properly screen them for inclusion in trials, how to measure the impact of the intervention, and the side effects of various drug therapies. These all are extraordinarily important as we advance steadily toward better therapies and preventions for Alzheimer’s and other dementias; and particularly as we envision those interventions being delivered in combination. For example, combinations of drugs that target amyloid and tau and perhaps also inflammation, and combinations of drug interventions with lifestyle changes and protective factors.”
Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia, a general term for memory loss and other intellectual abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer's disease accounts for 60 to 80 percent of dementia cases. According to Alzheimer’s Association’s 2016 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures, of the 5.4 million Americans with Alzheimer's, an estimated 5.2 million people are age 65 and older, and approximately 200,000 individuals are under age 65 (younger-onset Alzheimer's).
According to the World Alzheimer Report 2015 from Alzheimer’s Disease International, an estimated 46.8 million people worldwide are living with dementia in 2015. This number will almost double every 20 years, reaching 74.7 million in 2030 and 131.5 million in 2050.
Two abnormal structures called amyloid plaques and tau tangles are prime suspects in damaging and killing nerve cells in Alzheimer’s. Though most people develop some plaques and tangles as they age, those with Alzheimer's tend to develop far more. Many studies have confirmed a link between the spread of tau tangles and the severity of dementia symptoms.
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About AAIC
The Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) is the world’s largest gathering of researchers from around the world focused on Alzheimer’s and other dementias. As a part of the Alzheimer’s Association’s research program, AAIC serves as a catalyst for generating new knowledge about dementia and fostering a vital, collegial research community.
AAIC 2016 home page: www.alz.org/aaic/
AAIC 2016 newsroom: www.alz.org/aaic/press.asp
About the Alzheimer’s Association®
The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer's care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research, to provide and enhance care and support for all affected, and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer’s. Visit alz.org or call 800.272.3900.
CONTACT:
Alzheimer’s Association AAIC Press Office, 416-585-3701, [email protected]
Niles Frantz, Alzheimer’s Association, 312-335-5777, [email protected]
