Roche's Alzheimer's drug shows potential in early study

An experimental Alzheimer's therapy from Roche has successfully removed a protein that is a hallmark of the disease from patients' brains, the company reported Wednesday, adding further evidence that the drug holds promise.

The data comes from an early study and Roche has not yet assessed whether there has been a corresponding change in cognitive function or disease progression. But in recent years, U.S. regulators have approved similar drugs that can reduce levels of the protein called amyloid in patients' brains and have shown in studies to slightly slow the worsening of Alzheimer's disease.

Additionally, early results from Roche's treatment, an antibody called trontinemab, suggest it may be safer than some of the other amyloid-clearing treatments, although larger studies would need to confirm this. In particular, there have been comparatively few cases of a problem called ARIA, a type of brain swelling or bleeding, that has been seen with the other antibodies and that has led regulators in some parts of the world to take a negative stance toward the existing drugs.