Is passive immunization for Alzheimer's disease ‘alive and well’ or ‘dead and buried’?

Abstract

Background: Passive immunization strategies are under investigation as potential disease-modifying therapies for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Current approaches, based on data demonstrating behavioral improvement and reduced pathology in transgenic animal models, have focused exclusively on immune targeting of β-amyloid. Objective: To examine immunization strategies for AD. Methods: A review of relevant publications. Results/conclusions: Preliminary results from three Phase II trials suggest both the promise and the need to exercise caution with this method of immunotherapy. The strategies used were distinct, using monoclonal N-terminal, central epitope, and polyclonal antibodies to maximize the efficacy and safety of each approach. The tested compounds are moving into Phase III trials for mild to moderate AD. We await the discoveries that from these studies that may yield the first disease-modifying therapy for AD.

Keywords::

• Alzheimer's disease
• amyloid
• passive immunization

Acknowledgements

I would like to first acknowledge the many subjects, caregivers, friends and families of persons with AD that have engaged in clinical research activities that have allowed such discoveries to be made. Without your selfless engagement, such advances would not be possible. Secondly I would like to acknowledge the many researchers and clinicians in the field that I have not cited in this manuscript. Your contributions have been critical in leading us to our current investigations and search for disease modifying therapies for AD.