18-months Safety Follow-up Study of AADvac1, an Active Tau Vaccine for Alzheimer's Disease

AADvac1 is a candidate therapeutic vaccine for Alzheimer's disease that targets misfolded tau protein, a common denominator of neurofibrillary pathology. Based on preclinical results, the intervention is expected to reduce the number of neurofibrillary tangles, remove hyperphosphorylated tau protein and reduce the amount of oligomerized and insoluble pathological tau in the brain, to halt the spread of neurofibrillary pathology through the brain, and thus prevent associated cognitive decline.

The vaccine's antigenic determinant is a synthetic peptide derived from a tau protein sequence, which is coupled to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) and uses aluminum hydroxide (Alhydrogel) as an adjuvant.

At present AADvac1 is intended as an active immunotherapy for patients with diagnosed Alzheimer's disease (AD). According to need, patients will receive additional immunization doses beyond those administered in the preceding pase 1 trial; the raised titers of therapeutic antibodies and possible benefits of the treatment can extend beyond the duration of the study.

Because of the central role of pathological misfolded tau protein in the etiology of AD, the vaccine is expected to be more effective than active or passive immunotherapies aiming to eliminate the amyloid β plaques that have been clinically investigated so far.

Inclusion criteria

• Completion of visit V8 of the AADvac1 phase I study AXON CO 18700 (EUDRACT 2012-003916-29).
• Informed consent capability (as determined by an independent neurologist/psychiatrist).
• Written informed consent signed and dated by the patient and the caregiver.
• Availability of a partner/caregiver knowing the patient and being able to accompany the patient to the visits
• Adequate visual and auditory abilities and language skills to allow neuropsychological testing.
• Female patients are only eligible for the study if they are either surgically sterile or at least 2 years postmenopausal.
• Sexually active males must be using reliable contraception methods (i.e. condoms) or be surgically sterile.

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnant women.
• Participation in another clinical trial during the course of this study.
• Contraindication for MRI imaging such as MRI-incompatible metallic endoprosthesis or MRI-incompatible stent implantation
• History and/or presence of autoimmune disease, if considered relevant by the investigator.
• Significant systemic illness (e.g., chronic renal failure, chronic liver disease, poorly controlled diabetes, poorly controlled congestive heart failure, congenital long QT syndrome, other deficiencies), if considered relevant by the investigator.
• Current treatment with immunosuppressive drugs.