Fine-tuning Alzheimer's vaccines

Though the Phase IIa trial of AN-1792 from partners Elan Corp. plc and Wyeth was suspended due to adverse events, a report in Nature Medicine shows that the vaccine elicited a specific immune response, suggesting that a vaccine approach holds promise for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. In addition, an accompanying report provides evidence that a refined vaccine could successfully raise a therapeutic antibody response and yet bypass unwanted side effects.

In the international trial, which had nearly completed its expected enrollment of about 360 patients with mild-to-moderate AD, 12 patients treated with AN-1792 developed an inflammation of the central nervous system (see BioCentury, Jan. 22 & March 4). ...