Protect neurons from oxidative stress

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On the heels of the widely publicized failure of anti-amyloid approaches to curing Alzheimer's, a lot of publicity has been given to another approach known as "Tau" (Neuro-Fibrillary Tangles or NFT) as a therapeutic target for Alzheimer's.

Experts at Anavex Life Sciences Corp. have provided clarification that Tau, like Amyloid-Beta, is an effect of Alzheimer's, not the cause. Oxidative Stress is the true cause of the disease. Both Amyloid-Beta and Tau, in fact, are preceded by Oxidative Stress and it is Oxidative Stress that is the cause of neuron degeneration. Anavex is engaged in the development of drugs that protect neurons from Oxidative Stress. Anavex points out that this theory was endorsed by Rudy J. Castellani and his team in their article, Antioxidant protection and neurodegenerative disease: The role of amyloid-ß and tau. The paper notes that Tau is formed after the oxidative stress is accumulated and outlines the evidence for this. In summary, Castellani says: "Although both amyloid-B, and tau are essentially associated with etiology by various laboratories, the observed decrease in oxidative damage with amyloid-B and tau accumulation suggests, rather, a mechanism of survival. Moreover, as a consequence of age-related oxidative stress, there is an upregulation of phosphorylated tau and amyloid-B that result in NFT and senile plaques, respectively. Both lesions serve antioxidant functions and limit age-related neuronal dysfunction. However, in AD, this age-related oxidative stress is compounded by metabolic and metallic sources of oxidant stress that, despite greatly enhancing amyloid-B production and tau phosphorylation, lead to neurodegeneration and consequent dementia. In light of these observations, efforts aimed solely at eliminating amyloid-B appear short-sighted."

Anavex Life Sciences has developed an Alzheimer's drug candidate based on the theory that oxidative stress, not amyloid-beta plaques or Tau, is the cause of the disease. The drug protects neurons from the oxidative stress and addresses the very problem of the Alzheimer's disease. The company notes that preventing Tau predisposition without fighting the oxidative stress may lead researchers down a similar futile path that was followed with Amyloid-Beta as clinical trials demonstrated and Castellani theory states. Anavex's alternative approach is showing great promise in early-stage testing. Anavex's drug candidate, known as ANAVEX 1-41, uses sigma receptors, a unique class of receptor molecules, to guard against oxidative stress and repair cells compromised by its effects. In advanced pre-clinical studies, ANAVEX 1-41 appeared to provide neurons with potent protection from oxidative stress. It also prevented amyloid beta from becoming toxic and causing any follow-on damage. Moreover, ANAVEX 1-41 reduced memory deficits in animal test subjects - a particularly notable finding, given the quest for a drug that can actively reverse the effects of the disease.

A program of further work is currently underway to further assess the compound, including ongoing pre-clinical studies being carried out in collaboration with the Université Montpellier in France. The company is moving forward aggressively with this work, which is designed to pave the way for a rapid move towards human testing, expected to commence in late 2008 or early 2009. ...http://www.medicalnewstoday.com

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