New Era Of Hope: Immunotherapy Treatment AN1792

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AN1792 is a synthetic form of the amyloid beta protein which was used in an immunotherapeutic clinical trial that was stopped because 6 per cent of the patients began to suffer from inflammation of the brain (encephalitis).

Dr Michael Grundman, Senior Director of Clinical Development in the Alzheimer's Disease Program at Elan Pharmaceuticals presented their findings to the conference. These showed that 4.5 years after immunization with AN1792, patients who had developed antibodies to amyloid beta continued to show detectable levels of antibodies and slower decline in daily living compared with patients treated with placebo.

The key points of their findings were:
1) 159 patient/caregiver pairs took part in the follow-up (30 placebo patients and 129 patients on AN1792).
2) Of the 129 AN1792 patients, 25 were classed "antibody responders".
3) Compared to the placebo group, the antibody responders showed significant favourable results in: ability to look after themselves and pursue leisure activities; dependency on caregivers; and memory and thinking skills.
4) After the first year, brain volume changes in antibody responders and placebo patients were similar.

"The favorable results on Activities of Daily Living among the antibody responders in this study support the hypothesis that amyloid beta immunotherapy may have long-term benefits for patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's and their caregivers," said Grundman.