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Alzheimer's drug reduces amyloid levels

BASEL, Switzerland, Oct. 10 (UPI) -- The medication gantenerumab appeared to reduce brain amyloid levels in patients with Alzheimer's disease in a preliminary stuidy, Swiss researchers say.

Dr. Susanne Ostrowitzki of the F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Neuroscience in Basel, Switzerland, and colleagues said the study involved study subjects, who had mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease, at three university medical centers.

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Two consecutive groups of patients were randomized to receive two to seven infusions of intravenous gantenerumab -- 60 mg or 200 mg -- or placebo every four weeks.

Additionally, brain tissue from two patients who had Alzheimer's disease -- tissue obtained during tumor surgery -- was examined.

"Our study demonstrates that two to seven months of treatment with gantenerumab led to dose-dependent amyloid reduction in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease," the study authors said in a statement. "Additionally, our findings in the placebo-treated patients support previous reports indicating that amyloid load continues to increase in many patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease."

The authors suggest the treatment may work through an "effector cell-mediated mechanism of action" but it is unclear whether any reduction in brain amyloid level will translate into patient improvement.

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"A phase two clinical trial is under way to investigate whether a clinical benefit can be achieved in gantenerumab-treated patients with early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease," the researchers said.

The findings are published in Online First by Archives of Neurology.

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