These compounds, created with the support of FAPESP, are easy to prepare. It is believed to work by breaking down beta-amyloid plaques that form in the brains of people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. These plaques form when fragments of amyloid peptide accumulate between neurons. These cause swelling and hinder the balance of brain cells.
According to a study published in ACS Chemical Neuroscience, these compounds act as copper chelators. These molecules break down these structures by binding to the copper present in beta-amyloid plaques. This has reduced the symptoms associated with the disease. Research conducted on rats found that this molecule reduced memory decline. Changes in the pattern of beta-amyloid plaques were also seen in biochemical analysis.
This study is being led by Professor Giselle Cerciaro of the Natural and Human Sciences Center of UFABC. “About a decade ago, international studies began to show that copper ions play an important role in the formation of beta-amyloid plaques. It turned out that genetic mutations and changes in the enzymes that transport copper into cells can cause it to accumulate in the brain. This leads to the formation of these plaques. So regulation of copper homeostasis has become an important goal of Alzheimer’s treatment,” he said.
On this basis, researchers created molecules that can cross the blood-brain barrier and remove copper from beta-amyloid plaques. For this, 10 molecules were prepared and three of them were taken forward for experiments on rats. One of these showed very strong results.
What changes were seen in rats
In experiments conducted on rats, the compound reduced neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. This improved the copper balance in the hippocampus, which is important for memory. After this the rats showed good results in tasks related to navigation. Additionally, it has been found to be non-toxic in both hippocampal cell cultures and rats. In this research it has also been found that the compound can reach the areas of the brain most responsible for Alzheimer’s.
When will this medicine be available?
It takes ten to fifteen years for general treatment and medicines and five to eight years for medicines for special serious diseases. Out of this, the three main stages of clinical trials take about six to eight years. After completion of these trials, the pharmaceutical company applies to a regulatory body like CDSCO in India or FDA in America, the review of which takes six to twelve months.
However, special facilities such as fast-track, breakthrough therapy or priority review are provided for drugs for serious or life-threatening diseases such as cancer, HIV or rare diseases. Due to these, this time reduces to five to eight years.
