Aβ42 vaccine on the Tg2576 Alzheimer model mice

In 1999, Schenk et al. [Nature 400 (1999) 173] reported remarkable improvement of Abeta amyloid burden in the transgenic mice brain by immunization with Abeta42 peptides. Soon after, four independent institutes showed the same findings on senile plaque amyloid and improvement of memory disturbance confirming the effect of Abeta vaccine on brain Abeta amyloidosis. In July 2001, Elan Corporation started cooperative Phase I study of AN-1792, synthetic Abeta42 peptide. In September, Phase II study of 375 Alzheimer patients began in Europe. Because of 15 cases of encephalitis in March 2002, this drug trial was suspended. This is serious accident for patients, family and specialists, who hope for a curative therapy for Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, this result provided new insight that brain amyloidosis is reversible. Prompt evaluation of candidate drugs such as anti-Abeta antibody, beta-secretase inhibitor or anti-Abeta aggregation should be necessary in the near future. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.