Bapineuzumab
Encyclopedia
Bapineuzumab is a humanize
d monoclonal antibody that acts on the nervous system
and has potential therapeutic value for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease
and possibly glaucoma
.
Bapineuzumab is an antibody to the beta-amyloid (Aβ) plaques that are believed to underlie Alzheimer's disease neuropathology. In previous clinical trials for vaccination against human beta amyloid, called AN-1792, patients with Alzheimer's disease using active immunization
had positive outcomes with removal of plaques, but 6% of subjects developed aseptic meningitis
and the trial was stopped.
Bapineuzumab was being co-developed by the pharmaceutical companies Élan
and Wyeth
and entered Phase III trials in December 2007.. In 2008 a Johnson & Johnson
affiliate acquired a substantial portion of Élan's assets related to the Alzheimer's immunotherapy
program, which Elan had shared with Wyeth. The program is continuing with Pfizer
, which acquired Wyeth in 2009.
In patients receiving the highest dose, e.g. 2 mg, MRI scans showed an accumulation of water in brain tissue (vasogenic edema). No health risks were found in subjects receiving either 0.5 or 1 mg of bapineuzumab. Patients who have been receiving or have been scheduled to receive the highest dose will be either removed from the trials or switched to lower doses.
The efficacy of drugs targeted to brain plaques in Alzheimer's has been called into question .
Humanize
Humanize may refer to:*Humanize a 2001 album by the British jazz/funk band Big Boss Man*Humanized antibody, a type of monoclonal antibody...
d monoclonal antibody that acts on the nervous system
Nervous system
The nervous system is an organ system containing a network of specialized cells called neurons that coordinate the actions of an animal and transmit signals between different parts of its body. In most animals the nervous system consists of two parts, central and peripheral. The central nervous...
and has potential therapeutic value for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
and possibly glaucoma
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is an eye disorder in which the optic nerve suffers damage, permanently damaging vision in the affected eye and progressing to complete blindness if untreated. It is often, but not always, associated with increased pressure of the fluid in the eye...
.
Bapineuzumab is an antibody to the beta-amyloid (Aβ) plaques that are believed to underlie Alzheimer's disease neuropathology. In previous clinical trials for vaccination against human beta amyloid, called AN-1792, patients with Alzheimer's disease using active immunization
Active immunization
Active immunization is the induction of immunity after exposure to an antigen. Antibodies are created by the recipient and may be stored permanently....
had positive outcomes with removal of plaques, but 6% of subjects developed aseptic meningitis
Aseptic meningitis
Aseptic meningitis, or sterile meningitis, is a condition in which the layers lining the brain, meninges, become inflamed and a pyogenic bacterial source is not to blame. Meningitis is diagnosed on a history of characteristic symptoms and certain examination findings...
and the trial was stopped.
Bapineuzumab was being co-developed by the pharmaceutical companies Élan
Élan
Élan Corporation plc is a major drugs firm based in Athlone, County Roscommon, Ireland which has major interests in the United States. In the late 1990s its value on the Irish Stock Exchange reached over €20bn. It has secondary listings on the London Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange....
and Wyeth
Wyeth
Wyeth, formerly one of the companies owned by American Home Products Corporation , was a pharmaceutical company. The company was based in Madison, New Jersey, USA...
and entered Phase III trials in December 2007.. In 2008 a Johnson & Johnson
Johnson & Johnson
Johnson & Johnson is an American multinational pharmaceutical, medical devices and consumer packaged goods manufacturer founded in 1886. Its common stock is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the company is listed among the Fortune 500....
affiliate acquired a substantial portion of Élan's assets related to the Alzheimer's immunotherapy
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is a medical term defined as the "treatment of disease by inducing, enhancing, or suppressing an immune response". Immunotherapies designed to elicit or amplify an immune response are classified as activation immunotherapies. While immunotherapies that reduce or suppress are...
program, which Elan had shared with Wyeth. The program is continuing with Pfizer
Pfizer
Pfizer, Inc. is an American multinational pharmaceutical corporation. The company is based in New York City, New York with its research headquarters in Groton, Connecticut, United States...
, which acquired Wyeth in 2009.
In patients receiving the highest dose, e.g. 2 mg, MRI scans showed an accumulation of water in brain tissue (vasogenic edema). No health risks were found in subjects receiving either 0.5 or 1 mg of bapineuzumab. Patients who have been receiving or have been scheduled to receive the highest dose will be either removed from the trials or switched to lower doses.
The efficacy of drugs targeted to brain plaques in Alzheimer's has been called into question .