Scientists developed throughmonoclonal antibodiesa promising vaccination against Alzheimer's. This was able to effectively reduce the symptoms of the disease in mouse models. In addition, the study authors report the identification of a new site on a subtype of amyloid beta protein. This could make it possible to attack the protein selectively with antibodies or with the developed vaccine candidate.
Promising vaccination against Alzheimer's in the works
The amyloid-β protein occurs in many different forms in the brain. According to the researchers, selective targeting of the mentioned subtype has the potential to reduce side effects in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Now collaboration between British and German researchers has led to the development of two novel immunotherapy candidates. The monoclonal antibodies called TAP01 against this protein could help treat patients with Alzheimer's disease. In contrast, the vaccine called TAPAS would teach the immune system to recognize this protein and prevent the disease in healthy individuals. The antibodies identified in the study dramatically reduced or even stopped disease progression in two mouse models. However, drugs that remove amyloid plaques have so far been unsuccessful in improving symptoms of the disease in animal models and some clinical trials.
In view of the study results, the authors expect fewer side effects for both drugs compared to previous antibody treatments. Both their promising Alzheimer's vaccine and the modified antibodies do not react with Alzheimer's plaques, which is a big advantage. Immunization with either the cyclic designer protein or the humanized TAP01_04 antibody reduced levels of amyloid plaques in the brains of the mouse models. At the same time, both approaches reduced the loss of neurons in the hippocampus. This is a brain region that plays a central role in memory formation. The results suggest that both the TAPAS vaccine and the TAP01_04 antibody were effective in reducing brain markers associated with the progression of Alzheimer's disease. Now the authors are planningthis study, after the success of the two experiments, to carry out further animal studies and subsequent clinical studies.
