Clinical trial Recruiting at 2 sites Phase 1 Interventional Ages 21 to 80

NIO752 to reduce tau production measured with SILK

Official title: A Randomized, Participant & Investigator Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Study to Evaluate the Ability of Intrathecally Administered NIO752 to Lower CSF Total Tau Synthesis in Participants With AD Measured by Stable Isotope Labelling Kinetics

Run by University College, London · NCT06372821 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This Phase 1 trial will test whether the drug NIO752 lowers production of the tau protein in people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease or with genetic APP/PSEN mutations.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 1
Study typeInterventional
Ages21 Years to 80 Years
SexAll
Enrollment10 (estimated)
SponsorUniversity College, London
Academic / other
Locations2 sites (St Louis, Missouri and 1 other locations)
StatusRecruiting
StartedNovember 18, 2024
Main results expectedJuly 2026
Study endsJuly 2026
Registry record updatedJanuary 27, 2026
Trial IDNCT06372821 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Ideal candidates are adults 21–80 with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease or symptomatic APP/PSEN mutation carriers who have biomarker evidence of AD, a reliable study partner, and are able to undergo lumbar punctures, MRI, and blood draws.

Probably not a fit

Patients with advanced dementia, no biomarker evidence of Alzheimer pathology, inability to undergo required procedures, or who cannot comply with study visits are unlikely to benefit from participation.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This is a Phase 1 interventional trial comparing NIO752 with placebo to measure effects on tau synthesis using the SILK (stable isotope labeling kinetics) method and cerebrospinal fluid sampling. Participants are adults aged 21–80 with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease or symptomatic APP/PSEN mutation carriers and must have biomarker evidence of Alzheimer's pathology or confirmatory testing. The study includes lumbar punctures, MRI, blood draws, and clinical assessments to evaluate drug effect on tau production and safety. The goal is to characterize pharmacodynamic effects and early safety signals to inform later-stage development.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, lowering tau production could reduce tau buildup in the brain and potentially slow cognitive decline.

How similar studies have gone: Other tau-lowering approaches such as antisense oligonucleotides and small molecules have shown biomarker changes in early studies but have limited proven clinical benefit to date, so the approach is promising but still experimental.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Able to provide signed informed consent.
2. Between 21 to 80 years old (inclusive).
3. A diagnosis of mild or moderate Alzheimer's disease by a Clinical Dementia Rating score of 0.5 to 2, where the investigator believes they will be able to complete the study.
4. A history of cerebrospinal fluid, Positron Emission Topography (PET), or blood-based biomarkers supporting the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, or symptomatic approved presenilin (PSEN) or amyloid precursor protein (APP) mutation carriers. If blood biomarkers are equivocal then amyloid status can be confirmed using cerebrospinal fluid.
5. Fluency in English
6. Participant has a reliable study partner or caregiver
7. Able to undergo lumbar punctures, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), cerebrospinal fluid draws, and blood draws.
8. Individuals will be willing to consent for their biological samples and personal data to be shared with the commercial partner (Novartis)

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Live in a skilled nursing facility or dementia care facility.
2. Any clinically significant laboratory abnormality
3. Attempted suicide, suicidal ideation with a plan that required hospital admission within 12 months prior to Screening
4. Any previous use of experimental therapy within 180 days or 5 half-lives prior to Day 1, whichever is greater.
5. Any previous use of MAPT antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) or any other ASO or other gene therapy meant as treatment for Alzheimer's disease.
6. History of hypersensitivity to any of the study treatments or its excipients or to drugs of similar chemical classes.
7. Any condition that increases risk of meningitis unless participant is receiving appropriate prophylactic treatment.
8. Current medical or non-Alzheimer's disease neurological condition that might impact cognition or performance on cognitive assessments
9. Have any other conditions which, in the opinion of the investigator, would make the participant unsuitable for inclusion or could interfere with the patient participating in or completing the study.
10. Unlikely to cooperate in the study; not able to attend scheduled examinations and visits; or not able to follow study instructions per the judgement of the investigator.
11. Current alcohol (\>14 units per week) or current cannabis use; or history of alcohol or drug abuse or dependence (except nicotine dependence) within 2-years before the screening visit.
12. Treatment with immunosuppressants, antipsychotics, lithium, neuroleptics, dopaminergic agonists, L-dopa, or monoamine oxidase inhibitors at the time of screening. Current use of medications, other than cholinesterase inhibitors and/or memantine, that could alter cognition, as determined by the Investigator. If patients are taking cholinesterase inhibitors and/or memantine at screening, the dose must have been stable within 12-weeks prior to screening and must remain stable during the duration of the study.
13. Unable to undergo MRI due to for example claustrophobia, or presents absolute contraindications to MRI (e.g., metallic implants, metallic foreign bodies, pacemaker, defibrillator).
14. Significant signs of major cerebrovascular disease
15. Sexually active males, unless they agree to use a condom during intercourse from the time of consent until a minimum of 15 weeks after treatment.
16. Breast feeding women, pregnant women, and females of reproductive potential unless they use highly effective contraception methods, as specified in the protocol.
17. Patients on regular anticoagulants or anti-platelets that would preclude lumbar puncture are not eligible to participate
18. Seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Hepatitis B or hepatitis C.

Where it's running

  • Washington University in St. Louis
    St Louis, Missouri, United States
    Recruiting
  • University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
    London, United Kingdom
    Recruiting

Study contacts

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.