It’s been theorized that the effects of Alzheimer’s are caused by two proteins in the brain known as beta-amyloid and tau. Healthy versions of these proteins are essential in supplying food to brain cells, but when damaged the proteins form clumps – called plaque – which cause a host of problems including disrupting cell communication, metabolism and cell repair, while also blocking the flow of blood.
Amazing story and potential breakthrough… #alzheimers https://t.co/f2g91ayMZx
— Walter Hoffman (@wlhoffman1) June 26, 2019
United Neuroscience is aiming to combat these effects, and results from a small clinical trial have appeared promising. In fact, as many as 96% of their patients responded to their new Alzheimer’s vaccine – known as UB-311 – and didn’t develop any serious side effects.
As per Bloomberg, patients who were administered the drug exhibited improved brain function, with scans showing a reduction in the protein plaque gathering around their neurons.
United Neuroscience’s CEO, Mei Mei Hu, said: “We are doing better than the placebo on all these things.
“We can’t make any claims yet, but we’re pointing in all the right directions.”
The company is now beginning their third phase of trials for the vaccine, with phase II considered a success.
How it works
Wired did a piece about United Neuroscience and their UB-311 vaccine – initially developed by Hu’s mother, Chang Yi Wang – and it does a good job of explaining just how it works.
According to said piece, UB-311 uses endobody vaccines to assist the body in dealing with malfunctioning parts that it would otherwise ignore. In this it differs from regular vaccines, which instead ready our body’s immune system to engage and fight off diseases within us.
Speaking to Wired about the drug, Wang explained: “We were able to generate some antibodies in all patients, which is unusual for vaccines. We’re talking about almost a 100% response rate.”
It’s important to remember that these are very early days, and we would caution people not to expect a cure or vaccine to be hitting the streets anytime soon. All the same, it’s great to know there are people out there working tirelessly to solve humanity’s most dangerous puzzles.
Share this article to spread some good news today, and to pay tribute to the researchers and scientists behind the UB-311 vaccine!