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Phase 2 N=124 Randomized Triple-blind Treatment

Safety and Immunogenicity of Repeated Doses of ABvac40 in Patients With a-MCI or Vm-AD

Mild Cognitive Impairment · Alzheimer Disease

Enrolled (actual)
124
Serious AEs
20.4%
Results posted
Feb 2025
Primary outcome: Primary: Average Maximal Increment of Anti-Aβ40 Antibody Signal (Optical Density [OD] in ELISA) — 0.12; 3.27 OD — p=<0.0001

Study Design & Population

Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 2
Interventions
ABvac40 (Biological); Placebo (Biological)
Age
Adult, Older Adult · 55+ yrs
Sex
All
Sponsor
Araclon Biotech S.L.
Primary completion
Mar 2023

Outcome Measures

OutcomeResultp-value
PRIMARY
Average Maximal Increment of Anti-Aβ40 Antibody Signal (Optical Density [OD] in ELISA)
0.12; 3.27 <0.0001 sig
SECONDARY
Subject Discontinuations Due to TEAEs
4; 2; 0; 1
SECONDARY
Number of Subjects With Clinically Significant Abnormalities in Physical Examination
4; 1; 4; 2
SECONDARY
Number of Subjects With Clinically Significant Abnormalities in Neurological Examination
6; 5; 2; 1
SECONDARY
Number of Subjects With Clinically Significant Abnormalities in Analytical Hematology
5; 4; 0; 6
SECONDARY
Number of Subjects With Clinically Significant Abnormalities in Analytical Biochemistry
12; 5; 6; 6
SECONDARY
Number of Subjects With Clinically Significant Abnormalities in Coagulation
4; 1; 3; 2
SECONDARY
Level of Anti-Aβ40 Antibodies in CSF
0.1654; 30.1826; 0.2014; 1.2437 <0.001 sig
SECONDARY
Level of Anti-Aβ40 Antibodies in Plasma
1.5580; 1.5112; 1.5580; 13.7052; 1.6172; 44.3187 = 0.9936
SECONDARY
Level of Antibody-secreting Cells
-0.4596; 0.1943; -0.1172; 2.3198; 0.2730; 4.0542 = 0.1956
SECONDARY
Level of Aβ40 Peptides in Plasma - ABtest-IA
3.8381; 4.0604; 4.5019; 8.9863; 5.5195; -2.7073 = 0.9386
SECONDARY
Level of Aβ42 Peptides in Plasma - ABtest-IA
0.6745; 0.3868; 1.2776; 1.6248; 1.2091; 2.1331 = 0.6515
SECONDARY
Level of Aβ40 Peptides in Plasma - ABtest-MS
15.0554; 7.2235; 12.9981; 26.8351; 10.8314; 123.0016 = 0.9469
SECONDARY
Level of Aβ42 Peptides in Plasma - ABtest-MS
-0.2211; -0.0175; -0.2339; 1.7627; -1.1074; 0.8282 = 0.9031
SECONDARY
Cortical Fibrillary Amyloid Deposition Assessed by a-PET Scans
1.411; 3.561; 4.461; 1.241 = 0.1058
SECONDARY
Percentage of Change in Brain Volume
-1.39; -1.40; -2.05; -1.75; -4.16; -3.11 = 0.9313
SECONDARY
Percentage of Change in Hippocampal Volume
-1.63; -2.17; -4.16; -4.26; -7.17; -8.18 = 0.3647
SECONDARY
Percentage of Change in Ventricular Volume
5.30; 5.94; 10.63; 10.21; 22.51; 21.26 = 0.3982
SECONDARY
Level of Aβ42 Peptides in CSF
29.0; -2.0; -15.3; 4.0 = 0.2193
SECONDARY
Level of Aβ40 Peptides in CSF
-62.3; -141.8; -652.4; -192.5 = 0.7324
SECONDARY
Aβ42/Aβ40 Ratio in CSF
0.0007; 0.0009; 0.0018; 0.0021 = 0.9262
SECONDARY
Level of Total Tau in CSF
26.2; 17.8; 27.6; 15.9 = 0.9220
SECONDARY
Level of p-Tau 181 in CSF
2.84; 3.14; 1.97; 0.80 = 0.8917
SECONDARY
Level of Neurofilament Light in CSF
59.36; 181.20; 317.11; 276.14 = 0.2283
SECONDARY
Level of Neurogranin in CSF
-4.69; -5.93; -34.97; -31.13 = 0.909
SECONDARY
Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) Score
-2.15; -2.24; -3.64; -2.65; -4.58; -4.15 = 0.8711
SECONDARY
Clinical Dementia Rating-Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB) Score
0.75; 0.73; 1.41; 1.36; 2.12; 2.05 = 0.8949
SECONDARY
Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) Score
-1.30; -2.10; -5.45; -5.56; -4.71; -2.66 = 0.552
SECONDARY
Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study - Activities of Daily Living, Mild Cognitive Impairment (ADCS-ADL MCI) Score
-0.99; -2.08; -4.15; -3.78; -6.33; -6.54 = 0.3246
SECONDARY
Trail Making Test (TMT) Scores
0.54; -0.59; 11.34; 3.59; 17.42; 2.79 = 0.777
SECONDARY
Investigator Global Evaluation (IGE) Score
4.02; 4.07; 4.26; 4.21; 4.55; 4.45 = 0.6189
SECONDARY
Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale
1; 1; 0; 0; 1; 2
SECONDARY
EuroQol 5 Dimensions 5 Levels (EQ-5D-5L) Overall Severity Index Score
-0.99; -2.71; -3.06; -0.92 = 0.2863
SECONDARY
EuroQol 5 Dimensions 5 Levels - Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-5D-5L - VAS) Score
-4.77; -4.92; -5.22; -1.08 = 0.9609

Summary

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia, accounting for 50-75% of the estimated 47 million people with dementia worldwide. The amyloid cascade hypothesis of AD proposes that amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide accumulation in the brain, caused by an imbalance between Aβ production and clearance, is the initiating factor of a cascade ultimately leading to dementia. Aβ peptides are generated from sequential cleavage of the amyloid precursor protein (APP), including Aβ40 and Aβ42. Aβ40 is the predominant variant (90%) among the secreted Aβ forms and although Aβ42 is more hydrophobic and prone to aggregate, and Aβ42 oligomers are regarded to be the most neurotoxic species, Aβ40 can also produce highly toxic diffusible aggregates, which can be prevented in vitro by specific anti-Aβ40 antibodies. Several studies have proposed that a high concentration of Aβ40 in the brain distinguishes patients with AD from those who have senile plaques but are cognitively normal, pointing to the importance of Aβ40 in the onset of dementia. In keeping with this, previous studies have demonstrated that specific anti-Aβ40 antibodies label NFTs in the entorhinal cortex and the hippocampus of AD brains, and that these do not co-localize with tau NFTs, suggesting the presence of degenerating neuronal populations filled with C-terminal fragments of Aβx-40. In addition, Aβ40 is the main component of amyloid deposition around cerebral arteries causing cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), which has a prevalence of about 80-90% in patients with AD (for more information see Lacosta et al. Alzheimer's Research & Therapy (2018) 10:12 DOI 10.1186/s13195-018-0340-8). Considering those previous results suggesting that strategies targeting Aβ40 could represent novel disease-modifying therapies, we have developed ABvac40, the first active vaccine targeting the C-terminal end of the Aβ40 peptide. The purpose of this Phase II study is to confirm in patients with a-MCI or vm-AD the level of safety and tolerability obtained in the ABvac40 Phase I clinical trial in patients with mm-AD. In addition, the study is aimed to better characterize the immune response elicited by ABvac40 and to explore its effects on AD biomarkers.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

A subject must meet all the following inclusion criteria:

  • Male or female between 55 and 80 years of age, both inclusive, at the time of signing informed consent.
  • The patient (or legal representative, if applicable) and a close relative/caregiver must read the subject information sheet, agree to participate in the clinical trial and sign the informed consent form (the patient and a close relative/caregiver).
  • Presence of a stable caregiver to attend the patient study visits.
  • Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE) score between 24 and 30 points (inclusive), according to age and education level.
  • Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scale scoring 0.5.
  • Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) Score on the Delayed Memory Index (DMI) of 85 or lower.
  • The results of the patient's MRI brain scan must be concordant with the diagnosis of clinical a-MCI or vm-AD according to the following criteria: Scheltens scale, and measurement of white matter and past haemorrhages.
  • If the patient is receiving treatment for AD, must have been stable during the two months before the selection visit.
  • Treatment for concomitant diseases must be stable during the previous month before the treatment of the study.
  • Positive assessment of the candidate by the investigator for complying with the requirements and procedures of the study.

Exclusion Criteria

A subject meeting any of the following exclusion criteria is NOT eligible for participation in the study.

  • Known allergy to components of the vaccine or prior history of anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction or a history of hypersensitivity to any component of the formulation. Allergy to fish or shellfish.
  • Active infectious disease (i.e. hepatitis B, C). Positive syphilis serology.
  • History or presence of autoimmune disease, except mild eczema, rhinitis or psoriasis.
  • Presence or history of immunodeficiency (i.e. HIV).
  • Significant kidney and/or liver disease.
  • History of asthma or reactive airway disease with bronchospasm in the last 6 months, or currently on regular treatment.
  • Major uncontrolled systemic condition (e.g. diabetes, congestive heart failure, hypertension).
  • History of cancer (≤5 years since the last specific treatment). Exceptions: basocellular carcinoma.
  • Significant alterations in hematological, biochemical or urine analytical parameters, particularly those relating to levels of vitamin B12, folic acid or thyroid tests.
  • History of any other central nervous system disorder, degenerative or non-degenerative neurological or psychiatric condition that, in the investigator's opinion could be the cause of the dementia, or could explain the cognitive impairment, or that might interfere with cognitive function directly or by its treatment.
  • Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS; abbreviated version), score >5
  • Has a "yes" answer to C-SSRS suicidal ideation items 4 or 5, or any suicidal behavior within 6 months before Screening, or has been hospitalized or treated for suicidal behavior in the past 5 years before Screening.
  • History or signs of cerebrovascular disease (ischemic or haemorrhagic stroke, transient ischemic attack), or diagnosis of possible, probable or clear vascular dementia according to NINDS-AIREN criteria.
  • Presence on MRI of a relevant pattern of microvascular disease (Leukoaraiosis, Fazekas score ≥2 in the deep white matter scale or ≥4 in the global score) or more than one lacunar or territorial infarcts. Any other MRI finding that, in the opinion of the investigator, might be a relevant contributing cause of subject´s cognitive impairment. Presence of up to 3 microhemorrhages will be acceptable.
  • History of bleeding disorder or predisposing conditions, blood clotting or clinically significant abnormal results on coagulation profile at Screening, as determined by the Investigator.
  • Patients being treated with anticoagulants or antiaggregant therapy (aspirin at a pro
View full record on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03461276). Outcome figures and adverse-event rates are extracted automatically from the registry's posted results and are provided for clinician reference, not as a substitute for the primary publication.

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