On 2 April, data from the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer’s Network trial (DIAN-TU) were presented at the Advances in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Therapies (AAT-AD/PD™) Focus Meeting. Top-line results announced in February 2020 reported that the Phase II/III trial missed its primary endpoint, which was a slowing cognitive decline as measured by multiple tests of thinking and memory. This adaptive platform trial is a randomised, double-blind and placebo-controlled clinical trial assessing the safety, tolerability and efficacy of two drugs, solanezumab (made by Eli Lilly) and gantenerumab (made by Roche), in people at risk for and with a type of early-onset form of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) caused by a genetic mutation, called autosomal dominant AD.
Researchers explained the top-line results of the DIAN-TU prevention trial with solanezumab and gantenerumab. They reported several limitations to the study such as the small sample size, the disease stage and the dose. While not demonstrating positive benefit on cognitive scores, findings reported that gantenerumab reduced amyloid plaques from the brain and that Tau levels were significantly improved. As a result, Roche will be launching an open-label extension trial with DIAN-TU participants to explore the effects of high dose of gantenerumab for several years.