Two investigational drugs for Alzheimer's disease, simufilam and AL002, have failed to meet their primary endpoints in recent clinical trials. These results represent setbacks in the ongoing efforts to develop effective treatments for this debilitating neurodegenerative condition.
Simufilam Phase III Trial Results
Cassava Sciences reported that simufilam did not reduce cognitive or functional decline in Alzheimer's disease patients in the ReThink-ALZ phase III trial. Consequently, the company has halted a second phase III study of the drug. Topline data from the ReThink-ALZ trial indicated that the drug failed to demonstrate a statistically significant benefit compared to placebo in improving cognition or daily function, as measured by the ADAS-Cog and ADCS-ADL scales, respectively. The trial enrolled patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease, and the primary outcome measures focused on changes in cognitive and functional abilities over an 18-month period.
AL002 Phase II Trial Results
Alector announced that its investigational drug, AL002, also failed to slow clinical progression in people with early Alzheimer's disease in the INVOKE-2 phase II trial. The INVOKE-2 trial assessed the safety and efficacy of AL002 in patients with early-stage Alzheimer's disease. While specific details of the trial's endpoints and patient population were not provided, the announcement indicated that the drug did not demonstrate a significant impact on slowing the progression of the disease compared to the placebo group.
Plasma ptau-217 as a Predictive Biomarker
In related research, a plasma phosphorylated tau-217 (ptau-217) test has shown promise in reliably predicting regional tau accumulation in early Alzheimer's disease. The study, published in Alzheimer's and Dementia, suggests that this blood test could potentially reduce the reliance on more invasive and costly tau PET scans for diagnosing and monitoring Alzheimer's disease. The research demonstrated a strong correlation between ptau-217 levels in plasma and the extent of tau accumulation in specific brain regions, as measured by PET imaging. This finding could lead to earlier and more accessible diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, facilitating timely intervention and management strategies.
