Experimental Treatment for Alzheimer’s Fails to Show Promise
The experimental treatment, Gantenerumab, has failed to help people with a high risk of memory loss from Alzheimer’s or those in the early phases of the disease. This was announced by the manufacturer on Monday.
What is Gantenerumab?
Gantenerumab is part of a class of injected medications designed to remove sticky protein pieces, referred to as beta-amyloid, from the brain. Beta-amyloid is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease.
Limited Success in Removing Beta-Amyloid
Most of these drugs aim to delete beta-amyloid, but many have not managed to demonstrate real advantages to patients. Despite the treatment, brain function and memory do not improve significantly. Roche said on Monday that Gantenerumab removed less beta-amyloid from the brains of study participants than expected.
Disappointing Results
The company said that the results from phase 3 of its studies, referred to as graduates, were difficult but important to share. "So many of our families were affected by Alzheimer’s, so this message is very disappointing to deliver." Although the results of the graduated are not what we hoped for, we are proud to have delivered a high-quality, clear, and comprehensive Alzheimer’s data record in this area.
Future Plans
Roche said it would share further results from its study at an upcoming medical conference. The results for Gantenerumab follow positive results for another beta-amyloid reduction medication, Lecanemab. Companies testing that medication announced this year that Lecanemab had slowed the decline in brain function in Alzheimer’s patients by around 27% compared to a placebo.
Expert Opinion
Dr. Constantine Lyketsos, a professor of psychiatry, said that if Gantenerumab had removed as much beta-amyloid as the company would have predicted, it might have had a certain benefit in line with Lecanemab and Aduhelm. "In other words, a very modest, but not clinically significant effect."
Reaction from Alzheimer’s Association
The Alzheimer Association said in a statement that the results of the Roche study are "disappointing", but it remains "hopeful for this treatment class". Every anti-amyloid treatment that is tested works in different ways, and research into its effectiveness and security must be continued. It is essential to evaluate every treatment independently.
Prevalence of Alzheimer’s Disease
According to the Alzheimer Association, an estimated 6.5 million Americans live with Alzheimer’s disease in 2022. The organization remains committed to finding effective treatments for this complex illness.
