A new antibody to help protect brain cells and promote new brain cell growth for Alzheimer's disease treatment
Official title: A Novel Antibody that Promotes Neuronal Integrity and Neurogenesis for Treating Alzheimer's Disease
Funded at Virtici, LLC · NIH-10706541 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new type of treatment for Alzheimer's disease that uses special antibodies to help protect and support brain cells, with the hope of reducing harmful substances in the brain, and patients may have the chance to participate in trials to see how well it works.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 1 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virtici, LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 30, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $281,188 |
| NIH project number | 5R43AG080879-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10706541 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or those showing early signs of cognitive decline associated with the condition.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other forms of dementia or cognitive impairments unrelated to Alzheimer's disease may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a novel bispecific antibody designed to penetrate neurons and promote their integrity and growth, specifically targeting Alzheimer's disease (AD). The approach involves creating antibodies that can enhance the activity of α-secretase while inhibiting β-secretase, which are crucial in the processing of amyloid precursor protein (APP) linked to AD. By reducing harmful amyloid-beta accumulation in the brain, this treatment aims to address a significant unmet need for effective therapies in AD. Patients may be involved in trials to assess the safety and efficacy of this innovative treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to a groundbreaking treatment that not only alleviates symptoms of Alzheimer's disease but also promotes the regeneration of brain cells.
How similar studies have gone: While there have been various approaches to treating Alzheimer's disease, this specific bispecific antibody strategy is novel and has not been extensively tested in clinical settings.
Where this research is happening
-
Virtici, LLC
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fanger, Neil a — Virtici, LLC
- Study coordinator: Fanger, Neil a
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding how brain activity changes may drive Alzheimer’s disease progression in a mouse model
Researchers are testing how changes in brain signals and protein cleanup processes affect the development of Alzheimer’s disease in mice.
-
Thiamine-boosting therapy for Alzheimer’s: understanding how benfotiamine may reduce harmful AGE in DP patients
A medication-based approach using high-dose vitamin B1 (benfotiamine) is studied to help people with Alzheimer's by reducing harmful sugar-related molecules.
-
Non-invasive tears biomarker for early Alzheimer's in LMICs
A low-cost, tear-based biomarker approach aims to detect early Alzheimer’s disease in older adults in Peru and similar settings.
-
Turning APOE4 into protective APOE2 or APOE3Christchurch to help with Alzheimer’s
A patient-facing explanation of a treatment idea that aims to change a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease in the brain.
-
Telomerase in Alzheimer’s Disease: how aging biology could influence memory and brain health
Researchers are exploring a new brain-aging mechanism linked to telomerase, with potential to slow or modify Alzheimer’s disease in people and improve cognitive function.
-
Biomarkers of Alzheimer’s Disease: Sensory, Motor, and Cognitive Clues
Researchers are testing simple sensory and movement tasks to find early signs of Alzheimer’s disease so they can diagnose and treat people sooner.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.