Scientists claim Alzheimer's breakthrough

Published on Thursday 24 April 2008 22:25

A BREAKTHROUGH in tackling Alzheimer's disease was announced yesterday that might lead to a new generation of potent treatments.

Scientists synthesised a compound that targets a key biological pathway essential to the development of the disease.

In tests on mouse and fruit fly animal models, the molecule reduced changes in the brain associated with Alzheimer's by more than 50 per cent. Although the work is at an early stage, the German researchers hope it will pave the way for more effective treatments.

The disease is the most common form of dementia, which affects about 700,000 people in the UK, mostly over the age of 65. It causes a progressive loss of memory and mental faculties, which can be devastating for the patients concerned and those around them.

A range of drugs are available to alleviate the symptoms of Alzheimer's, but they do not halt the condition and can have serious side-effects.

One of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's is the formation of amyloid protein deposits, or plaques, that eventually kill off brain cells. Their main component is the beta-amyloid peptide, a protein building block.

The new compound targets an enzyme, beta-secretase, involved in the production of beta-amyloid peptide.

Professor Kai Simons, of the Max-Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, who led the research, said: "Our data provide proof-of-principle of a new approach for directing small molecule inhibitors to disease-causing raft targets in cellular membranes.

"In this instance, by directing inhibition to the sub-compartment where the enzyme is active, the approach has the potential to be used in the design of more effective beta-secretase inhibitors for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease."

He said the same strategy may prove effective against other conditions in which rafts play a role, including allergic disorders and infectious diseases.

Prof Simons is co-founder of JADO Technologies, a German biotech company dedicated to investigating new raft treatments. Charl van Zyle, the chief executive, said the company was building a pipeline of therapeutic compounds.

"This data supports our belief that the raft approach has potential in a diverse number of indications," he said.