Therapeutic Potential of Combination Strategies to Treat Alzheimer Disease: Lloyd Tran, PhD

WATCH TIME: 6 minutes

"Combination therapy gives us the best of both worlds, offering a holistic approach where one treatment complements and balances the other."

For years, the idea of combining medications to treat neurodegenerative disorders seemed farfetched, simply for the fact that there had been little success with drug development, with only symptomatic treatments available. Since 2022, the Alzheimer disease (AD) community has witnessed 2 new approved treatments—lecanemab (Leqembi; Eisai) and donanemab (Kisulna; Eli Lilly)—that target and remove amyloid-ß from the brain, otherwise considered a hallmark of AD pathology.

At the 2024 Alzheimer’s Disease International Conference (AAIC), held July 28-August 1, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, representatives from Biomed presented the outline of a new phase 3 study assessing NA-831, an investigational agent, in combination with lecanemab. The study, which consists of a core and open-label extension, is expected to enroll 600 participants, aged 50 to 90 years, who will be divided into 3 groups. Group 1 will receive 30 mg of NA-831 capsule orally once a day or placebo, group 2 will receive intravenous lecanemab (10 mg per kilogram of body weight every 2 weeks) or placebo, and group 3 will receive one 30 mg of NA-831 capsule orally once a day and intravenous lecanemab (5 mg per kilogram of body weight every 2 weeks) or placebo.

The study, expected to be conducted across 30 sites in the US and worldwide, serves as a testament to the progress in the field, and the potential for combination approaches in AD. During the conference, NeurologyLive® sat down with Lloyd Tran, PhD, chairman and chief executive officer at Biomed, to discuss the unique benefits of integrated therapy methods. He spoke on the additive benefits this approach may bring, the customization and personalization to treatment plans, and the advantages in targeting various brain areas simultaneously. Furthermore, he also stressed how studies like this allow for greater collaborative opportunities, bringing together smaller companies and larger firms to enhance market strength and patient care outcomes.

Click here for more coverage of AAIC 2024.

REFERENCE
1. Tran L, Tran ZV, Vu F, et al. Phase 3 clinical protocol: placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel-group to study safety and efficacy of NA-831 in combination with lecanemab in subjects with early Alzheimer’s disease. Presented at: AAIC; July 28-August 1, 2024; Abstract 95755