Anti-Amyloid-β Monoclonal Antibodies: Recent Therapeutic Strategies for Alzheimer’s Disease

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a chronic, progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disease, and is considered to be the main cause of dementia. It is currently one of the most prevalent diseases in the world, counting with millions of people suffering from dementia. Its exact etiology is not yet known; however, among the various hypotheses trying to explain the pathophysiology of AD, the one that has been more prominent in clinical research is the amyloid cascade hypothesis. Therefore, researchers have been using immunotherapy, particularly passive immunization, based on the use of effective monoclonal antibodies against the amyloid-β aggregates. Currently, several antibodies are already in phase 3 clinical trials. On June 7th, 2021, the monoclonal antibody Aducanumab gains Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval to be used in patients in the early stages of the disease, becoming the first disease modifying drug for AD, contrary to other drugs that are already on the market, which only act on symptomatology.

Keywords

• Alzheimer Disease/drug therapy; Alzheimer Disease/physiopathology; Amyloid beta-Peptides; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Clinical Trials