Amytrapper: a blood-filter device to remove Alzheimer's beta‑amyloid
Novel Extracorporeal Device 'Amytrapper' To Remove Beta Amyloid In Alzheimer'sDisease
A device called Amytrapper is being developed to filter amyloid‑beta out of the blood of people with Alzheimer's disease to try to reduce brain amyloid and help memory.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Recombinant Technologies, LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cheshire, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11141649 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project is building an extracorporeal catheter (Amytrapper) that is coated with a small peptide which binds both soluble and insoluble forms of amyloid‑beta in blood. Blood would pass through the catheter so circulating amyloid‑beta sticks to the coated surface and is removed from circulation. The idea is that lowering blood amyloid will pull amyloid out of the brain over time and may slow memory loss. The company has completed early SBIR work showing proof of concept and is progressing the device toward clinical use.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People diagnosed with early‑stage Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's who can safely undergo outpatient extracorporeal procedures would be the most likely candidates.
Not a fit: People with advanced dementia, non‑amyloid causes of cognitive decline, or who cannot tolerate extracorporeal apheresis or vascular access are unlikely to benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the device could lower brain amyloid levels and possibly slow cognitive decline without the immune side effects seen with some antibody treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Monoclonal antibody drugs have shown amyloid reduction and some cognitive effects, and prior blood‑removal approaches have had mixed results, making this peptide‑coated catheter a novel and less immunogenic variant of those strategies.
Where this research is happening
Cheshire, United States
- Recombinant Technologies, LLC — Cheshire, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sundaram, Pazhani — Recombinant Technologies, LLC
- Study coordinator: Sundaram, Pazhani
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 below.