STAR Molecule Shows Promise in Cell Model of Alzheimer’s Disease

Gain Therapeutics‘ investigational STAR (small-molecule structurally targeted allosteric regulators) candidate lowered toxic amyloid-beta and tau protein levels, both hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease, in a cellular model of the disease. Treatment with the STAR molecule enhanced the survival and boosted communication between nerve cells, the company announced. The…

FDA Grants Breakthrough Therapy Designation to Gantenerumab

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted breakthrough therapy status to gantenerumab, a human antibody that’s expected to slow or even prevent cognitive decline and memory loss in Alzheimer’s disease. The FDA designation is intended to accelerate the development and review of candidate therapies with clinical…

Amyloid-beta Produced in the Liver May Play Role in Alzheimer’s

Amyloid-beta produced in peripheral organs, specifically the liver, may be implicated in the brain neurodegeneration observed in Alzheimer’s disease, according to a mouse study. The study, “Synthesis of human amyloid restricted to liver results in an Alzheimer disease–like neurodegenerative phenotype,” was published in PLOS Biology. Deposits of amyloid-beta…

Gantenerumab Lowers Key Protein Levels in Early-onset Disease Trial

The investigational therapy gantenerumab significantly lowered levels of established biomarkers in a rare, inherited form of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, despite failing to slow cognitive decline or memory loss in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients, according to data from a Phase 2/3 clinical trial. Based on these results, enrolled patients…