An Alzheimer's disease vaccine may be ready for testing in humans in the next three to five years. Researchers from the Flinders University in Australia and the University of California, Irvine have developed a vaccine formulation targeting proteins in the brain that show signs of Alzheimer's disease.
"If we are successful in pre-clinical trials, in three to five years, we could be well on the way to one of the most important developments in recent medical history," said Flinders University School of Medicine Professor Nikolai Petrovsky as per MedicalXpress. Petrovsky is also the director of South Australian vaccine research company Vaxine Pty Ltd.
Australian researchers on brink of medical breakthrough, vaccine targeting triggers of Alzheimer's disease. #9News https://t.co/5KM10dI9ys
— Nine News Australia (@9NewsAUS) July 13, 2016
Alzheimer's Disease Vaccine Acts Against Proteins In The Brain
Medical News Today reported that the vaccine developed by the researchers produces antibodies that target beta-amyloid and tau proteins in the brain. Beta-amyloid proteins are said to form plaques while tau proteins form tangles in the brain, and both plaques and tangles impair the nerves.
The vaccine is said to be composed of a MultiTEP vaccine platform and Advax. The first component deals with the proteins in the brain and the Advax enhances a person's antibody response to the disease. The vaccine has been tested in mice and in brain tissue from patients with Alzheimer's disease, with successful results.
Vaccine Can Potentially Alzheimer's Disease
"It could be used both to give people at a particular age, say 50 years of age when they are perfectly fine, to stop them developing dementia, but potentially also could be given to people at least in the early stages of dementia to actually try and reverse the process," Petrovsky said, as per ABC Adelaide. Petrovsky added that the development of the vaccine is being funded by the government of the United States.
Data from the Alzheimer's Association reveal that more than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease. It is also the 6th leading cause of death in the country and for this year, Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia will cost the United States $236 million.
