Lilly research reveals new insight into Alzheimer’s therapy options

Lilly has announced the findings of a non-clinical study that offers a new insight into the best way of treating early indicators of Alzheimer's disease.

The company used genetically-engineered mice to examine the effects of combination therapy with the murine version of the beta-amyloid antibody N3pG and beta-secretase inhibitor BACE on amyloid-beta protein plaques in the brain.

It was found that these plaques –  a component that is thought to lead to Alzheimer's disease – were removed more effectively using the combination approach than through the use of one therapy, with multiple different types of biochemical analyses confirming this finding.

This sheds light on a possible new means of slowing the progression of the neurodegenerative disease in human patients.

Dr Ron DeMattos, research fellow in the neuroscience division at Lilly, said: "These results may have a significant impact on the future of Alzheimer's disease therapies, as they support the clinical rationale for using future testing of combination therapy against the a-beta protein in the clinical practice."

The findings were shared at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference, where the company is giving 23 presentations on its latest dementia research and drug development efforts.