A new Alzheimer's drug developed by Roche has demonstrated a reduced risk of brain bleeds while clearing amyloid plaques more effectively than existing treatments, researchers reported at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference in London.
The drug, called trontinemab, is a next-generation antibody therapy designed to target and remove amyloid beta plaques from the brain. Unlike current FDA-approved drugs such as Leqembi and Kisunla, trontinemab showed a much lower rate of amyloid-related imaging abnormalities, or ARIA, which include brain swelling and microbleeds.
Safer and faster plaque removal
Dr. Luka Kulic of Roche in Basel, Switzerland, presented the findings on July 14. The study showed that trontinemab reduced amyloid levels in the brain more quickly than existing antibody drugs, and those reductions were maintained for at least one year. Only a small number of patients experienced ARIA events, and those that did were mostly mild and asymptomatic.
ARIA has been one of the biggest safety challenges for amyloid-clearing therapies. In clinical trials for Leqembi and Kisunla, a portion of patients developed brain swelling or microbleeds that required monitoring and, in some cases, hospitalization. Trontinemab's design appears to reduce this risk while maintaining or improving treatment efficacy.
Expanding the treatment landscape
The Alzheimer's treatment field has seen rapid progress in recent years. Leqembi and Kisunla were the first disease-modifying therapies to receive FDA approval, but their side effect profiles have limited how widely they can be used. Trontinemab has now moved into Phase III clinical trials, and researchers are hopeful it could become a first-line option.
The findings come as the FDA considers expanding access to Leqembi's at-home starter doses. With over 6 million Americans living with Alzheimer's, safer and more effective treatments remain an urgent medical need.