Alzheimer setback- Roche’s candidate drug fails two trials

Subject : Science and Technology

Context-

Roche’s Alzheimer’s drug candidate could not be shown to slow dementia progression in two drug trials.

The study

The twin studies (Graduate 1 and 2) failed to show that the drug gantenerumab could preserve abilities such as remembering, solving problems, orientation and personal care in patients suffering from the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.
Gantenerumab was designed to bind to aggregated forms of beta-amyloid and remove brain amyloid plaques, which are believed to play a crucial role in the slowly progressing dementia disease.

Alzheimer’s disease-

It is a progressive neurologic disorder that causes the brain to shrink (atrophy) and brain cells to die.
It is the most common cause of dementia — a continuous decline in thinking, behavioural and social skills that affect a person’s ability to function independently.
No cure exists, but medication and management strategies may temporarily improve symptoms.

Alzheimer’s threat

Most of the 55 million people suffering from dementia worldwide are likely to be affected by Alzheimer’s disease, according to the World Health Organisation.
In 2030, dementia is expected to affect 78 million.