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CHICAGO: Acumen Pharmaceuticals (ABOS.O) announced on Sunday that an experimental treatment for Alzheimer’s disease that targets a novel version of the harmful protein beta-amyloid in the brain has passed an initial safety test and will move on to a larger trial.
According to the manufacturer, the medication, ACI193, was well tolerated throughout its initial human testing. At the Alzheimer’s Association’s International Conference in Amsterdam, the findings of randomized, placebo-controlled research including 62 patients with early Alzheimer’s disease were presented.
According to Dr. Eric Siemers, chief medical officer of Acumen, the company’s medication targets and binds to amyloid beta oligomers, a toxic, soluble form of the amyloid protein that creates the brain plaques linked to the memory-robbing disease.
The target is comparable to that of the newly approved Leqembi from Biogen (BIIB.O) and Eisai (4523.T), which attacks a different soluble, toxic form of the protein in the brain. After demonstrating its ability to eliminate amyloid plaques and reduce the progression of Alzheimer’s in individuals with early-stage disease, Leqembi received standard U.S. approval earlier this month.
In the Acumen trial, amyloid-targeting therapies were associated with a brain swelling disease known as ARIA-E in 10.4% of treated patients (5 people). Only one of them experienced symptoms, which went away when the medication was withdrawn.
Another 8.3% of patients experienced ARIA-H or related treatment-induced bleeding in the brain.
“We didn’t know if we would get any ARIA or not,” said Siemers, adding that the ARIA cases could indicate the medication is working. However, the antibody only targets oligomers, not plaque.
After 6 to 12 weeks, those who received greater dosages of the medication also displayed a decrease in amyloid plaque, according to the manufacturer. According to Acumen’s research, the medication may be administered as a monthly intravenous infusion.
