Nasal Protollin in Early Symptomatic Alzheimer's Disease

In this research study investigators want to learn more about a new drug called nasal Protollin as a possible new treatment for Alzheimer's Disease (AD). In AD, there is accumulation in the brain of a toxic substance called amyloid. It is believed that this toxic substance causes brain cells to progressively waste away (degenerate) and die, causing a continuous decline in thinking, behavioral and social skills. Why amyloid accumulates is not completely understood.

The aim of this treatment is to remove toxic amyloid from the brain and prevent further degeneration. Although nasal Protollin has been given as part of vaccination programs, this is the first time Protollin will be given nasally (through the nose) in AD patients. Investigators aim to see if this way of giving the Protollin is safe and whether it stimulates the body's white blood cells to remove toxic amyloid from the brain and ultimately improve cognition. This will be a dose escalating (gradually increasing the dose in different subjects) study, which means we want to find the highest dose of Protollin that is safe to take. Protollin is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This means that Protollin can only be used in research studies.

This research study will compare Protollin to placebo. The placebo looks exactly like Protollin, but it does not contain any Protollin. During this study participants may get a placebo instead of Protollin. Placebos are used in research studies to see if the results are due to the study drug or due to other reasons.

Inclusion criteria

• The Sponsor will rely on NIA-AA Alzheimer's Disease Diagnostic Guidelines1 for Early Symptomatic Alzheimer's Disease and have a MMSE of 29-20.
• Age between 60-85 years (inclusive).
• Good general health with no disease expected to interfere with the study.
• On a stable medication regimen for 8 weeks prior to the study and which is anticipated to remain stable during the study.
• Subject is not pregnant, lactating, or of childbearing potential (i.e., women must be two years post-menopausal or surgically sterile). ). If a woman is of childbearing potential, her partner is required to use contraception throughout the study (for those identifying as male).
• Amyloid-positive PET scan (if subject meets all other inclusion criteria).
• Ability to understand and provide informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

• Any significant neurologic disease including Parkinson's disease, multi-infarct dementia, Huntington's disease, frontotemporal dementia, Lewy body dementia, normal pressure hydrocephalus, brain tumor, brain hemorrhage with persistent neurologic deficits, progressive supra-nuclear palsy, seizure disorder, multiple sclerosis, or history of significant head trauma followed by persistent neurologic defaults or known structural brain abnormalities.
• Clinically significant or unstable medical condition, including uncontrolled hypertension, uncontrolled diabetes, or significant cardiac, pulmonary, renal, hepatic, endocrine, or other systemic disease.
• History of autoimmune disease.
• Current treatment with immunomodulatory or immunosuppressive drugs, or corticosteroid administration by any route of administration (including nasal corticosteroids) within the past month.
• Major depression or bipolar disorder or a history of schizophrenia.
• History of alcohol or substance abuse or dependence within the past 2 years.
• History within the last 5 years of a primary or recurrent malignant disease with the exception of non-melanoma skin cancers, resected cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in situ, basal cell carcinoma, cervical carcinoma in situ, or in situ prostate cancer with normal prostate-specific antigen post-treatment.
• Clinically significant abnormalities (defined as greater than mild on the FDA's vaccine toxicity scale) in screening laboratories.
• Participation in another clinical trial of an investigational drug concurrently or within the past 30 days.
• Active COVID-19 disease
• Amyloid-negative PET scan (at screening)
• COVID-19 vaccine within past 10 days or any other vaccine within past 7 days (at dosing)