New Alzheimer's Drug Shows Big Promise in Early Trial Results

A new drug holds promise in the battle against Alzheimer's disease, lowering the plaques in patients' brains and slowing the progression of dementia, researchers said Wednesday. The study—presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference in Chicago—involved a study of 856 participants from the United States, Europe, and Japan with early symptoms of cognitive decline, reports the New York Times . According to the data, patients taking the highest of five doses of a drug known as BAN2401 (Eisai and Biogen) had lower amyloid levels and slowed cognitive decline compared with placebo recipients. Among 161 individuals taking the highest dose—an injection every 2 weeks of 10 mg per kilogram of a person's weight—81 percent had such substantial reductions in amyloid levels that they "converted from amyloid positive to amyloid negative," said Lynn Kramer, MD, chief medical officer of Eisai. Furthermore, on a set of cognitive and functional tests assessing memory and skills like reasoning, the high-dose group declined at a rate that was 30 percent slower than the rate of decline seen in among placebo recipients. Kramer noted the findings from the Phase II study were statistically significant 18 months after the study began, though some improvement was seen at 6 months. However, some experts urged caution with the results, noting that more work needs to be done. Reisa Sperling, MD, director of the Center for Alzheimer Research and Treatment at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, noted: "It's important not to over-conclude on the data. But as a proof of concept, I feel like this is very encouraging."