Drug Discovery

Anti-amyloid

A Novel Approach Towards Immunotherapy Against Alzheimer’s Amyloid

Investigator(s): Beka Solomon, PhD

Institution(s): Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv Israel

Duration: 2002 - 2003

Summary:

A major therapeutic target for AD is the reduction of ?beta-amyloid levels in the brain. An important advance in the field of AD therapeutics has been the development of an anti-amyloid immunization therapy. Transgenic mouse studies have shown that immunization with a vaccine containing beta-amyloid peptide dramatically reduces brain beta-amyloid levels. The Élan/American Home Product (AHP) phase II clinical beta-amyloid immunization trial was halted due to complications that developed in a small percentage of the test subjects. In this program Dr. Solomon will test a vaccine that is novel and potentially more effective and safer than the AHP/Élan approach. Her vaccine employs a small peptide component of the full-length beta-amyloid molecule and therefore may avoid side effects related to immunization with the full beta-amyloid peptide. She will also use filamentous phage as a potentially more effective delivery vehicle. The efficacy of the vaccine will be tested in a transgenic mouse model of AD employing neuropathological and behavioural tests. Dr. Solomon’s innovative approach employing phage and a small beta-?amyloid peptide may improve the efficacy and safety of AD vaccines.