Journal Article (Review Article)

DZNE-2022-00122

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png The case for low-level BACE1 inhibition for the prevention of Alzheimer disease.

McDade, E. ; Voytyuk, I. ; Aisen, P. ; Bateman, R. J. ; Carrillo, M. C. ; De Strooper, B. ; Haass, C.DZNE* ; Reiman, E. M. ; Sperling, R. ; Tariot, P. N. ; Yan, R. ; Masters, C. L. ; Vassar, R. ; Lichtenthaler, S. F. (Last author)DZNE*

2021
Macmillan Publishers Limited, part of Springer Nature London

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1038/s41582-021-00545-1

Abstract: Alzheimer disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in older individuals (>65 years) and has a long presymptomatic phase. Preventive therapies for AD are not yet available, and potential disease-modifying therapies targeting amyloid-β plaques in symptomatic stages of AD have only just been approved in the United States. Small-molecule inhibitors of β-site amyloid precursor protein (APP)-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1; also known as β-secretase 1) reduce the production of amyloid-β peptide and are among the most advanced drug candidates for AD. However, to date all phase II and phase III clinical trials of BACE inhibitors were either concluded without benefit or discontinued owing to futility or the occurrence of adverse effects. Adverse effects included early, mild cognitive impairment that was associated with all but one inhibitor; preliminary results suggest that the cognitive effects are non-progressive and reversible. These discontinuations have raised questions regarding the suitability of BACE1 as a drug target for AD. In this Perspective, we discuss the status of BACE inhibitors and suggest ways in which the results of the discontinued trials can inform the development of future clinical trials of BACE inhibitors and related secretase modulators as preventative therapies. We also propose a series of experiments that should be performed to inform 'go-no-go' decisions in future trials with BACE inhibitors and consider the possibility that low levels of BACE1 inhibition could avoid adverse effects while achieving efficacy for AD prevention.

Keyword(s): Aged (MeSH) ; Aged, 80 and over (MeSH) ; Alzheimer Disease: prevention & control (MeSH) ; Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases: antagonists & inhibitors (MeSH) ; Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases: genetics (MeSH) ; Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor: metabolism (MeSH) ; Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases: antagonists & inhibitors (MeSH) ; Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases: genetics (MeSH) ; Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic (MeSH) ; Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic (MeSH) ; Enzyme Inhibitors: therapeutic use (MeSH) ; Female (MeSH) ; Humans (MeSH) ; Male (MeSH) ; Middle Aged (MeSH) ; Plaque, Amyloid: prevention & control (MeSH) ; Research Design (MeSH) ; APP protein, human ; Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases ; Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases ; BACE1 protein, human

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Molecular Neurodegeneration (AG Haass)
2. Neuroproteomics (AG Lichtenthaler)

Research Program(s):

1. 352 - Disease Mechanisms (POF4-352) (POF4-352)

Appears in the scientific report 2021

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Database coverage:
; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Clinical Medicine ; Ebsco Academic Search ; Essential Science Indicators ; IF >= 40 ; JCR ; Nationallizenz ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

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