Abstract
Drugs currently used to treat Alzheimer's Disease (AD) have limited therapeutic value and do not affect the main neuropathological hallmarks of the disease, i.e., senile plaques and neurofibrillar tangles. Senile plaques are mainly formed of β-amyloid (Aβ), a 42-aminoacid peptide. Neurofibrillar tangles are composed of paired helical filaments of hyperphosphorylated tau protein. New, potentially disease-modifying, therapeutic approaches are targeting Aβ and tau protein. Drugs directed against Aβ include active and passive immunization, that have been found to accelerate Aβ clearance from the brain. The most developmentally advanced monoclonal antibody directly targeting Aβ is bapineuzumab, now being studied in a large Phase III clinical trial. Compounds that interfere with proteases regulating Aβ formation from amyloid precursor protein (APP) are also actively pursued. The discovery of inhibitors of β-secretase, the enzyme that regulates the first step of the amyloidogenic metabolism of APP, has been revealed to be particularly difficult due to inherent medicinal chemistry problems, and only one compound (CTS-21166) has reached clinical testing. Conversely, several compounds that inhibit γ-secretase, the pivotal enzyme that generates Aβ, have been identified, the most advanced being LY-450139 (semagacestat), now in Phase III clinical development. Compounds that stimulate α-secretase, the enzyme responsible for the non-amyloidogenic metabolism of APP, are also being developed, and one of them, EHT-0202, has recently entered Phase II testing. Potent inhibitors of Aβ aggregation have also been identified, and one of such compounds, PBT-2, has provided encouraging neuropsychological results in a recently completed Phase II study. Therapeutic approaches directed against tau protein include inhibitors of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3), the enzyme responsible for tau phosphorylation and tau protein aggregation inhibitors. NP-12, a promising GSK-3 inhibitor, is being tested in a Phase II study, and methylthioninium chloride, a tau protein aggregation inhibitor, has given initial encouraging results in a 50-week study. With all these approaches on their way, the hope for disease-modifying therapy in this devastating disease may become a reality in the next 5 years.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 386-406 |
| Number of pages | 21 |
| Journal | Aging clinical and experimental research |
| Volume | 21 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| Publication status | Published - Dec 2009 |
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Keywords
- α-secretase activators
- β-amyloid
- β-secretase inhibitors
- γ-secretase inhibitors
- γ-secretase modulators
- Aβ aggregation inhibitors
- Active immunotherapy
- Alzheimer's disease
- Passive immunotherapy
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Ageing
- Geriatrics and Gerontology
Cite this
Beyond the neurotransmitter-focused approach in treating Alzheimer's Disease : Drugs targeting β-amyloid and tau protein. / Panza, Francesco; Solfrizzi, Vincenzo; Frisardi, Vincenza; Imbimbo, Bruno P.; Capurso, Cristiano; D'Introno, Alessia; Colacicco, Anna M.; Seripa, Davide; Vendemiale, Gianluigi; Capurso, Antonio; Pilotto, Alberto.
In: Aging clinical and experimental research, Vol. 21, No. 6, 12.2009, p. 386-406.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Beyond the neurotransmitter-focused approach in treating Alzheimer's Disease
T2 - Drugs targeting β-amyloid and tau protein
AU - Panza, Francesco
AU - Solfrizzi, Vincenzo
AU - Frisardi, Vincenza
AU - Imbimbo, Bruno P.
AU - Capurso, Cristiano
AU - D'Introno, Alessia
AU - Colacicco, Anna M.
AU - Seripa, Davide
AU - Vendemiale, Gianluigi
AU - Capurso, Antonio
AU - Pilotto, Alberto
PY - 2009/12
Y1 - 2009/12
N2 - Drugs currently used to treat Alzheimer's Disease (AD) have limited therapeutic value and do not affect the main neuropathological hallmarks of the disease, i.e., senile plaques and neurofibrillar tangles. Senile plaques are mainly formed of β-amyloid (Aβ), a 42-aminoacid peptide. Neurofibrillar tangles are composed of paired helical filaments of hyperphosphorylated tau protein. New, potentially disease-modifying, therapeutic approaches are targeting Aβ and tau protein. Drugs directed against Aβ include active and passive immunization, that have been found to accelerate Aβ clearance from the brain. The most developmentally advanced monoclonal antibody directly targeting Aβ is bapineuzumab, now being studied in a large Phase III clinical trial. Compounds that interfere with proteases regulating Aβ formation from amyloid precursor protein (APP) are also actively pursued. The discovery of inhibitors of β-secretase, the enzyme that regulates the first step of the amyloidogenic metabolism of APP, has been revealed to be particularly difficult due to inherent medicinal chemistry problems, and only one compound (CTS-21166) has reached clinical testing. Conversely, several compounds that inhibit γ-secretase, the pivotal enzyme that generates Aβ, have been identified, the most advanced being LY-450139 (semagacestat), now in Phase III clinical development. Compounds that stimulate α-secretase, the enzyme responsible for the non-amyloidogenic metabolism of APP, are also being developed, and one of them, EHT-0202, has recently entered Phase II testing. Potent inhibitors of Aβ aggregation have also been identified, and one of such compounds, PBT-2, has provided encouraging neuropsychological results in a recently completed Phase II study. Therapeutic approaches directed against tau protein include inhibitors of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3), the enzyme responsible for tau phosphorylation and tau protein aggregation inhibitors. NP-12, a promising GSK-3 inhibitor, is being tested in a Phase II study, and methylthioninium chloride, a tau protein aggregation inhibitor, has given initial encouraging results in a 50-week study. With all these approaches on their way, the hope for disease-modifying therapy in this devastating disease may become a reality in the next 5 years.
AB - Drugs currently used to treat Alzheimer's Disease (AD) have limited therapeutic value and do not affect the main neuropathological hallmarks of the disease, i.e., senile plaques and neurofibrillar tangles. Senile plaques are mainly formed of β-amyloid (Aβ), a 42-aminoacid peptide. Neurofibrillar tangles are composed of paired helical filaments of hyperphosphorylated tau protein. New, potentially disease-modifying, therapeutic approaches are targeting Aβ and tau protein. Drugs directed against Aβ include active and passive immunization, that have been found to accelerate Aβ clearance from the brain. The most developmentally advanced monoclonal antibody directly targeting Aβ is bapineuzumab, now being studied in a large Phase III clinical trial. Compounds that interfere with proteases regulating Aβ formation from amyloid precursor protein (APP) are also actively pursued. The discovery of inhibitors of β-secretase, the enzyme that regulates the first step of the amyloidogenic metabolism of APP, has been revealed to be particularly difficult due to inherent medicinal chemistry problems, and only one compound (CTS-21166) has reached clinical testing. Conversely, several compounds that inhibit γ-secretase, the pivotal enzyme that generates Aβ, have been identified, the most advanced being LY-450139 (semagacestat), now in Phase III clinical development. Compounds that stimulate α-secretase, the enzyme responsible for the non-amyloidogenic metabolism of APP, are also being developed, and one of them, EHT-0202, has recently entered Phase II testing. Potent inhibitors of Aβ aggregation have also been identified, and one of such compounds, PBT-2, has provided encouraging neuropsychological results in a recently completed Phase II study. Therapeutic approaches directed against tau protein include inhibitors of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3), the enzyme responsible for tau phosphorylation and tau protein aggregation inhibitors. NP-12, a promising GSK-3 inhibitor, is being tested in a Phase II study, and methylthioninium chloride, a tau protein aggregation inhibitor, has given initial encouraging results in a 50-week study. With all these approaches on their way, the hope for disease-modifying therapy in this devastating disease may become a reality in the next 5 years.
KW - α-secretase activators
KW - β-amyloid
KW - β-secretase inhibitors
KW - γ-secretase inhibitors
KW - γ-secretase modulators
KW - Aβ aggregation inhibitors
KW - Active immunotherapy
KW - Alzheimer's disease
KW - Passive immunotherapy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77649256879&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=77649256879&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
C2 - 20154508
AN - SCOPUS:77649256879
VL - 21
SP - 386
EP - 406
JO - Aging clinical and experimental research
JF - Aging clinical and experimental research
SN - 1594-0667
IS - 6
ER -