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Researches new antibody drug against Alzheimer's
Millions of people worldwide suffer from dementia and so far they can not be adequately helped. Therefore, researchers are working intensively on the development of possible new treatment methods. Scientists at the Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) have now tested a new antibody against Alzheimer's disease.
Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia and is currently incurable. Together with researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI and Probiodrug AG, the scientists of the MLU have now investigated a new approach to Alzheimer's treatment using a special antibody drug. Their results were published in the journal "Journal of Biological Chemistry".
A new antibody drug is expected to help combat harmful peptide deposits in the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients. (Image: Juan Gärtner / fotolia.com) Harmful deposits in the brain
Although the mechanism of Alzheimer's disease is not fully understood yet, it is highly probable that it is related to harmful plaques in the brain. "Particularly dangerous here is a specially modified type of beta-amyloid peptide," emphasizes Professor. Milton T. Stubbs from the Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology of the MLU. Due to their structure, these peptides clump together very quickly and then deposit in the brain, the expert continues.
New agents against the deposits in the brain
The hopes for new treatment options for Alzheimer's are often based on approaches that contribute to the reduction of plaque formation in the brain or even cause their dissolution. Some time ago the company Probiodrug had already developed a small-molecule drug, which achieved quite promising results in initial trials with Alzheimer's patients, according to the MLU. The drug has inhibited the formation of the modified peptide and its deposits in the brain.
Targeted action against harmful peptides
In the current study, the scientists continued to pursue this approach and developed a new antibody drug that should only work if the dangerous peptides have already been formed in the body. First, it required detailed knowledge of what the structure of the peptides looks like and how they can be recognized by the antibody. "If we know the structure of the peptide, we can develop the antibodies to attack only one substance," explains Prof. Stubbs
Like a vacuum cleaner for the brain
According to Professor dr. Hans-Ulrich Demuth, head of the Fraunhofer IZI MWT Halle, was shown in further investigations, "that the new drug is well suited to recognize exactly the harmful peptide structures, which should lead to fewer side effects." Co-author Dr , Inge Lues, Chief Development Officer at Probiodrug, adds: "It's like putting a vacuum cleaner away from the system." Like a vaccine, the antibody drug can be injected into humans. The preclinical and clinical development of the new antibody is carried out by Probiodrug AG.
In their study, scientists also describe for the first time the detailed structure of the harmful beta-amyloid peptide. This shows - in simple terms - the shape of a boxing glove and the striking structure could also explain why this form of Alzheimer's peptide compounds clumps so quickly, reports the MLU.