Alzheimer’s disease is often accompanied by the overactivation of immune cells in the brain. NYCU and its alumni collaborated to develop oral immunomodulatory drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, and the first phase of clinical trials has been completed. It is anticipated that these results give new hope to Alzheimer’s patients.
In order to prevent life-threatening situations, Microglia, a type of immune cell in the central nervous system, will initiate an immune inflammatory response when detecting pathogens or harmful substances. However, recent studies have found that some abnormal microglial cells over-activate the immune inflammatory response, which is one of the major causes of nerve damage and degeneration, and further complicating Alzheimer’s disease. This breakthrough has opened the opportunity for immunotherapeutic treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.
NYCU and Elixiron Immunotherapeutics Inc., an alumni-led company, have successfully developed a new oral immunomodulatory drug. In animal experiments conducted by d istinguished Professor Jin-Wu Tsai of the Institute of Brain Science, it was discovered that this drug can effectively inhibit the activation of brain microglial cells and reduce the damage of nerve cells. The mice were fed twice daily and then observe the pathology and behavior of the mice to evaluate the damage to nerve cells after one month. Finally, the researchers found that the drug effectively improved the symptoms of neurodegeneration.
Professor Jin-Wu Tsai said that Alzheimer’s disease is not only the most common neurodegenerative disease but also a major issue in an aging society. An accompanying dementia with emotional changes often make it difficult for patients and caregivers to endure physical and mental suffering. At present, there are few effective treatments available, but the use of immunomodulatory therapy to treat Alzheimer’s disease has great potential.
This immunomodulatory oral drug was developed by Dr.Hung-Kai Kevin Chen, an alumnus of NYCU, and the research & development team at Dr.Chen’s company, Elixiron Immunotherapeutics Inc. Dr.Chen received his bachelor’s degree in medicine from NYCU and a doctorate in microbiology and immunology. He has worked in several organizations like, University of California, San Francisco, GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals, and the Development Center of Biotechnology, Taiwan. NYCU signed an industry-university cooperation plan to invest in the research and development of new drugs for immunotherapy of neurodegenerative diseases.
Due to the effective results of the first phase of clinical trials, this drug has also been funded by the Cloud program of the Alzheimer’s Association of America, to begin the second phase of clinical trials. This oral medicine is the sole winner from Asia among the six winning teams from the top academic research and pharmaceutical institutes in the world this year.
Duan Xiaohua, Executive Vice President of clinical development at Elixironsaid, that the first phase of clinical trials has shown excellent results in drug safety and the second phase of clinical trials will be launched in early 2023. If it goes well, large-scale clinical trials will be launched Moreover, It is expected to provide a sign of hope for an effective treatment of Alzheimer’s disease patients.