Amyloid-β Binding Compound Looks Promising for Mild AD

The deposition of insoluble amyloid-β (Aβ) protein into plaques in the brain is a key signature of Alzheimer disease (AD). These researchers conducted a manufacturer-sponsored, two-part, phase II trial to determine whether a compound that binds soluble Aβ was feasible as an AD treatment.

In the first part — a double-blind, 3-month study — researchers randomized 58 patients with mild-to-moderate AD to receive placebo or the compound 3-amino-1-propanesulfonic acid (3APS) in one of three doses (50 mg, 100 mg, or 150 mg), each taken twice daily. 3APS crossed the blood-brain barrier and was associated with few adverse effects, mostly gastrointestinal. The higher doses significantly reduced Aβ-42 levels in CSF, especially in the patients with mild…