LONDON—Several experimental therapies target- ing tau are currently under investigation in phase
I and II clinical trials. Researchers at the 2017 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference described the
design of, and early results from, studies of two monoclonal antibodies and an antisense oligonucleotide.
Research has indicated that accumulation of hy-
perphosphorylated tau directly correlates with cogni-
tive decline in Alzheimer’s disease and other primary
tauopathies. “Tau is a compelling therapeutic target in
Alzheimer’s disease,” said Geoffrey A. Kerchner, MD,
PhD, of Genentech, San Francisco. “In autopsy studies,
tau status in the brain correlates strongly with cognitive
status right before death.” Furthermore, tau changes in
the CSF and on PET imaging as patients progress from
prodromal disease to mild-to-moderate disease. “Tau
is present at the time patients are showing up at our
clinics,” he said.
RO7105705 for Alzheimer’s Disease
Dr. Kerchner presented data from a phase I trial of
RO7105705, a humanized anti-tau monoclonal antibody. RO7105705 binds specifically to tau and is intended to intercept tau in the extracellular space of the
brain, blocking its cell-to-cell spread.
The primary objective of the study was to evaluate
the safety of single and multiple doses of the drug,
Can Anti-Tau Therapies Treat
Neurodegenerative Disorders?
Serving the Neurology Community Since 1993
FOLLOW US ON Find us on
facebook
continued on page 7
How Low Can
10 Cholesterol Safely Go?
Which Interventions Can
15 Delay Cognitive Decline?
Blood Test Accurately
19 Detects GLUT1 Deficiency
The Pitfalls of Interpreting
20 Clinical Trial Data
Improving Anticoagulation Use
28 in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation
How Does Cognitive Demand
Sleep Duration Impacts Insomnia
35 and Depression Remission
Inside This Issue
