Alzheimer's projects

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The amyloid plaques are found between nerve cells in the brains of Alzheimer's sufferers. They consist of amyloid protein fragments that are normally broken down by the body and removed. However, in people who suffer from Alzheimer's, the fragments, mainly beta-amyloid build up into hard deposits that can kill surrounding nerve cells.

The SupraAntigen Technology has generated a lead anti-beta-amyloid antibody that has been highly active in animal disease models for AD. The antibody changes the plaques from an insoluble to soluble form, enabling them to be removed by the body. This was directly linked to improvement of memory.

Genentech will cover all development and clinical costs of the lead antibody and subsequent antibody candidates.

Several other companies run Alzheimer's projects. Samaritan Pharmaceuticals have filed a patent for caprospinol (SP 233), a drug that appears to reduce the toxic effects of beta-amyloid and help remove plaques.

Irish pharmaceutical company Elan has developed ACC-001 in collaboration with US drug major. The drug induces an immune response designed to clear beta amyloid and is currently in Phase I clinical trials. A further study has shown that a drug previously approved for treatment of several immune disorders can also benefit patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's. Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, have demonstrated that Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIg), a purified mixture of human antibodies, can be used to remove amyloid plaques from the brain. The antibiotics also appear to block the toxic effects of amyloid-beta.