Rhode Island Hospital recruiting Alzheimer’s patients for TANGO study

RHODE ISLAND HOSPITAL researchers are investigating whether a new drug, BIIB092, can prevent damaging tau proteins from spreading through the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease. / COURTESY LIFESPAN CORP.

PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island Hospital Alzheimer’s Disease and Memory Disorders Center researchers are recruiting volunteers for TANGO, a national clinical trial evaluating whether a new drug using antibodies to target tau protein in the brains of people with the disease is an effective treatment.

The trial is sponsored by Biogen, based in Massachusetts. The drug, BIIB092, uses antibodies to target the tau protein that builds up in the brain cells of people with Alzheimer’s, attaching to the tau protein to prevent it from spreading through the brain, according to Rhode Island Hospital.

Before Alzheimer’s symptoms appear, two proteins, tau and amyloid, begin accumulating in patients’ brains. The buildup of tau and amyloid can interfere with brain function and causes problems with memory and thinking. The experimental drug being used in TANGO attaches to the tau protein to prevent it from spreading throughout the brain.

Only people with higher levels of amyloid plaques on their positron emission tomography, or PET, scans will qualify to participate in the study.

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“Because changes in tau are more closely related to the degeneration of nerve cells, as well as the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, we are hopeful that this will be a successful approach to controlling the disease. Among investigational drugs currently under study for AD, BIIB092 is exciting in that it does not aim to reduce amyloid protein buildup in the brain but is an immunotherapy that targets tau protein,” said Dr. Brian Ott, principal investigator at Rhode Island Hospital.

Interested volunteers should contact the Rhode Island Hospital Alzheimer’s Disease and Memory Disorders Center at 1-844-5MEMORY or by email at memory@lifespan.org.

Rob Borkowski is a PBN staff writer. Email him at Borkowski@PBN.com.

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