Roche Tests Trontinemab in 1,600 People to Prevent Alzheimer's Before Symptoms
Updated
Updated · Express · Jul 15
Roche Tests Trontinemab in 1,600 People to Prevent Alzheimer's Before Symptoms
3 articles · Updated · Express · Jul 15
Summary
Around 1,600 people aged 55 and over who are at high risk of Alzheimer's will be offered trontinemab in a global trial designed to stop symptoms emerging.
Monthly trontinemab infusions aim to clear toxic brain plaques, and researchers will use blood tests for elevated p-tau217 to identify participants most likely to benefit.
The Roche drug is a next-generation follow-on from lecanemab and donanemab, which slowed cognitive decline by 27% and 35% in patients who already had symptoms.
Safety is a key focus because those older drugs caused brain bleeds in about one in four patients; trontinemab has so far shown that complication less often, potentially reducing monitoring and cost.
Scientists and Alzheimer's charities say the study marks a shift from treating established disease to preventive care, with hopes of a 'statin for the brain' within five to 10 years.
With rivals offering at-home injections, can Roche's advanced IV drug win the Alzheimer's prevention race?
Should healthy people take risky drugs to prevent a disease they may never actually get?
Trontinemab in Alzheimer’s: Phase III Trials, Blood Test Screening, and the Race for Superior Efficacy and Safety by 2027
Overview
Roche has launched a major late-stage clinical program for trontinemab, including the pivotal Phase III TRONTIER 1, TRONTIER 2, and PrevenTRON trials for Alzheimer's disease. To streamline patient selection, Roche initiated the TRAVELLER pre-screening study, which uses the Elecsys pTau217 blood test—a less invasive and more affordable alternative to PET scans. This innovative approach enables broader community outreach, extends trial access to more diverse populations, and ensures participants better represent the wider Alzheimer's community. These efforts mark a significant step toward developing new, accessible treatments for Alzheimer's disease.