A phase IIa clinical trial of VEL015 (sodium selenate) in mild to moderate Alzheimer's Disease

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The two hallmark neuropathological features of Alzheimer's disease are extracellular amyloid deposits, and intracellular deposits of neurofibrilliary tangles comprised of abnormal tau protein. The clinical trial of amyloid therapies have been disappointing and this clinical trial represents the first trial of a therapy directed towards tau pathology in Australia to our knowledge. Everyone has a naturally occurring protein called tau in the brain and the fluid around their brain and spine (cerebrospinal fluid). There is a link between Alzheimer’s Disease and a reaction involving tau where too much phosphate is attached. This may cause brain cells to work less well or die. Further, protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) which breaks down phosphate has been shown to be less active in people with Alzheimer’s. VEL015 works by increasing the activity of PP2A and therefore decreasing the available phosphate in the brain. Studies in animals have shown that VEL015 helps to prevent this reaction between tau and phosphate. We now want to find out if it will help to treat Alzheimer’s Disease in humans.