Prana's PBT2 prevents synapse loss in AD mice

Australia's Prana Biotechnology says that its lead compound for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, PBT2, in addition to previously  reported benefits, also prevents the loss of synapses that underlies the  process of neurodegeneration in the condition in animal studies.

Ordinarily, transgenic Alzheimer's mice suffer a loss of synapses, which  leads to cognitive impairment because nerve cells can no longer  communicate with each other. The new data shows that in mouse models of  AD, PBT2 can reverse the effect of Abeta protein toxicity on nerve cell  synapse loss.

Colin Masters, director of the Mental Health Research Institute and  Laureate Professor, University of Melbourne, said: "this confirms that  our preclinical and clinical findings of PBT2 opens the pathway for PBT2  to prevent the damage caused by Abeta in the brain of a person with  Alzheimer's disease and to improve cognitive function."