Next-Generation alzheImer'S Therapeutics

NCT ID: NCT06372587

Last Updated: 2024-04-18

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 14 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2023-12-19
• Study Completion Date: 2027-02-28

Brief Summary

Is this the right time to use next-generation approaches in Alzheimer's disease (AD)? In recent years, several large clinical trials testing treatments for AD have failed, putting the entire field on a reset. AD drug trials have almost exclusively sought to use antibodies targeted toward misfolded amyloid and tau proteins. Of note, although these approaches have failed, they were designed to cover both familial and sporadic forms of AD. On the other hand, the failure in developing new effective drugs is attributed to, but not limited to, the highly heterogeneous nature of AD with multiple underlying hypotheses and multifactorial pathology. The idea underlying this project is based on the assumption that learning and memory disorders can arise when the connections between neurons do not change appropriately in response to experience. Thus, by intervening on the core mechanisms of the cellular correlate of learning and memory, i.e., synaptic plasticity, the investigators expect to preserve some of the essential brain functions in AD. By overcoming the limits of traditional AD therapeutic approaches, the investigators will use genetically encoded engineered proteins (GEEPs), which the investigators developed and tested in vitro and in murine models, to control their activity in living human neurons boosting synaptic plasticity. Indeed, outstanding and relevant progress in understanding synaptic physiology empowers the possibility to prevent or limit brain disease like never before. The investigators designed GEEPs to address some of the leading causes of synaptic plasticity failures documented in AD. Thus, GEEPs will be tested in human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs)-derived living neurons obtained from reprogrammed peripheral tissues of participants with Alzheimer's diseases. hiPSCs will be obtained from fibroblast-derived from a skin biopsy of participants with AD and controls performed in local anesthesia using a 4 mm punch. The findings will provide the first preclinical study on the effect of genetically engineered proteins to control essential pathways implicated in synaptic plasticity on AD-related cognitive decline.

Conditions

Alzheimer Disease

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NON_RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Alzheimer's disease patients

To test engineered proteins in human neurons derived from skin biopsy from Alzheimer's disease patients

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

genetically encoded engineered proteins

Intervention Type: OTHER

using genetically encoded engineered proteins to obtain an inducible control of their activity in living human neurons promoting synaptic plasticity and/or preventing dendritic spines loss

Neurotypical control patients

To test engineered proteins in human neurons derived from skin biopsy from neurotypical control patients

Group Type: SHAM_COMPARATOR

genetically encoded engineered proteins

Intervention Type: OTHER

using genetically encoded engineered proteins to obtain an inducible control of their activity in living human neurons promoting synaptic plasticity and/or preventing dendritic spines loss

Interventions

genetically encoded engineered proteins

using genetically encoded engineered proteins to obtain an inducible control of their activity in living human neurons promoting synaptic plasticity and/or preventing dendritic spines loss

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Manifest clinical criteria for probable AD;
• Age between 18 and 80 years;
• Signed informed consent obtained;

Exclusion Criteria

• Patients suffering from other neurological diseases;
• Patients with coagulation disorders or in treatment with anticoagulant drugs;
• Patients suffering from dermatological diseases and connective tissue diseases;
• Patients suffering from other organic, psychiatric diseases or laboratory abnormalities could preclude participation or invalidate the study results;
• Inability to give informed consent.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 80 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Locations

Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS

Roma, , Italy

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

Italy

Facility Contacts

CRISTIAN RIPOLI

Role: primary

cristian.ripoli@policlinicogemelli.it

+390630154966

Other Identifiers

5502

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id