Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative brain disease and the most common form of dementia. It is an irreversible, progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and eventually the ability to carry out the simplest tasks. In most people with Alzheimer’s disease, symptoms first appear in their mid-60s. Estimates vary, but experts suggest that more than 5.5 million Americans may have Alzheimer’s disease.
Our efforts to advance the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease
Alector’s pioneering work in the search for treatments that target Alzheimer’s disease is guided by an understanding of human genetics. Studies have shown that people with lower levels of progranulin due to genetic mutations are at a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Conversely, higher levels of progranulin have been shown to protect against the disease in animal models. Progranulin is a protein that promotes neuronal survival and enhances lysosomal activity in the brain. Elevating progranulin levels may improve the degradation of misfolded proteins and offer protection to neurons.
Our therapeutic candidate, AL101, aims to restore diminished progranulin levels to normal ranges as a potential strategy for treating Alzheimer’s disease.
Alector’s clinical trial in Alzheimer’s disease
Alector and GSK are conducting a clinical study of AL101 for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Additional information about the clinical study (NCT06079190) can be found at ClinicalTrials.gov.