‘One-of-a-kind’ new Alzheimer’s drug RI-AG03 reveals promise

Researchers say they’ve sparked an “thrilling” breakthrough in treating Alzheimer’s illness by creating a drug to stop the build-up of poisonous proteins within the mind.

“This analysis is taking promising steps in the direction of a brand new one-of-a-kind remedy which targets tau, a harmful protein within the brains of individuals dwelling with Alzheimer’s, stopping it from clumping collectively,” said Richard Oakley, affiliate director of analysis and innovation on the Alzheimer’s Society UK, which funded the analysis.

Tau is a naturally occurring protein that helps stabilize nerve cells within the mind. These proteins can go unhealthy by clumping collectively to kind lengthy, twisting fibrils that disrupt cell operate.

Irregular clumps of tau are referred to as neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) — they’re an indicator of Alzheimer’s, a neurodegenerative situation that impacts an estimated 7 million Individuals.

Now, a global staff led by Lancaster College within the UK says it has developed a drug referred to as RI-AG03 that targets and blocks the 2 “hotspots” the place tau clumping tends to happen.

“There are two areas of the tau protein that act like a zipper to allow it to mixture,” defined Amritpal Mudher, professor of neuroscience on the College of Southampton. “For the primary time, now we have a drug which is efficient in inhibiting each these areas.”

College of Southampton researchers gave the drug to fruit flies that had poisonous tau, noting that it suppressed neurodegeneration and prolonged the flies’ lives by about two weeks.

The average fruit fly lifespan is 40 to 50 days.

Researchers on the College of Texas Southwestern Medical Middle additionally examined the drug in genetically engineered cells, discovering that it lowered tau aggregation.

The outcomes have been printed Thursday in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association.

The staff plans to check RI-AG03 in rodents earlier than launching scientific trials. Nevertheless, prior promising tau-based therapies have failed in scientific trials.

“It’s vital to notice that the examine is in its early levels, so we don’t but know if it can work or be protected for people, but it surely’s an thrilling improvement and we look ahead to seeing the place it leads,” Oakley mentioned.

There isn’t a remedy for Alzheimer’s, however sure medicines goal to sluggish cognitive decline in folks with the illness.