Reports + Research
UCSD Researchers Explore Another Way to Treat Alzheimer’s Disease
A pathological hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease is the accumulation of amyloid beta plaques and tangles of tau proteins. A majority of the therapeutic development for Alzheimer’s disease has been to slow or reverse the presence of amyloid beta plaques. As an alternative, a team of international researchers, including UC San Diego, have focused on how to reduce accumulation of tau. They found that cholesteryl esters, which are how the cell stores excess cholesterol, can regulate tau. The researchers also found that a drug that lowered cholesteryl ester activation reduced tau levels in a cellular model of the disease. Further work on the mechanism and possible use of other cholesterol-lowering drugs, such as statin, is needed.
Neurocrine and Voyager Partner on Gene Therapy to Treat Parkinson’s Disease
Neurocrine has made a deal for four of Voyager’s gene therapy programs: VY-AADC for Parkinson’s disease, VY-FXN01 for Friedreich’s ataxia, and two programs that have yet to be determined. Under the agreement, Neurocrine will give Voyager a $165 million upfront payment and funding for ongoing development of each program. If developmental, regulatory and commercial milestones are hit, the deal could be worth $1.7 billion.
Ionis Enrolls First Patient in Pivotal Huntington’s Disease Clinical Trial
Ionis and its partner Roche (Genentech) has enrolled the first patient in a pivotal study of RG6042 (IONIS-HTTRx) Huntington’s disease (HD). According to Ionis, “RG6042 is the first therapy in pivotal trials designed to target the underlying cause of HD by reducing production of the toxic mutant huntingtin protein (mHTT).” The study will take place at 26 locations in the United States and Canada.
Read + Listen
POW: Podcast of the Week
The Alzheimer’s Podcast is a resource providing tips and insights for those living with Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia.
It’s Happening Here
February 2:
On Saturday, February 2, the 3rd Annual SABPA Frontiers in Therapeutics and Diagnostics will take place at the Hilton Del Mar. This forum will cover gene and cell therapy, including CAR-T therapies, and artificial intelligence.
Tags: Alzheimer’s, Biotech, Biotech Briefing, Medical Research, Medicine, parkinson's, Research, UCSD
