The A3 Study: Ante-Amyloid Prevention of Alzheimer's disease

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SUMMARY This is an application for NIH support of a public-private-philanthropic partnership to conduct a novel prevention trial aimed at initiating anti-amyloid therapy prior to the current threshold for “amyloid positivity” (Aβ+). We propose the Ante-Amyloid prevention of Alzheimer's disease (AD)—the “A3” Study—in clinically normal older individuals with “non-elevated” amyloid levels on screening PET who are at increased risk for further Aβ accumulation. The A3 Study will leverage the large number of eager participants who screen-fail for current secondary prevention trials (A4 and EARLY/“A5” trials) on the basis of non-elevated amyloid levels on screening Amyloid PET scans (florbetapir SUVr). We will utilize an Age x APOE x Amyloid PET SUVr risk algorithm to identify and enroll 600 individuals between the ages of 60-75 who are not yet at the threshold for Aβ+, but who show intermediate levels of SUVr (Aβi) and are at the highest risk for progressing to Aβ+. Our preliminary data suggest these Aβi participants will demonstrate significant increases in Aβ accumulation over 2-4 years, as well as show evidence of neocortical tau spreading, cortical thinning, and even subtle declines on cognitive testing as they progress towards Aβ+. Our ultimate goal is to facilitate primary prevention trials in AD. The A3 design will test an oral treatment (BACE inhibitor) at a stage of Aβ accumulation that is estimated to be 5 years earlier than current secondary prevention trials (“pre-preclinical AD”). There are several BACE inhibitors currently in large-scale trials at later stages of AD that show robust lowering of Aβ production, with good safety profiles suitable for initiating trials in this very early at-risk population. The A3 Study design is a Phase 2b/3 double-blind, randomized, 3-arm, 4 year trial with a BACE inhibitor at 2 doses vs. placebo (n=200 per arm). The primary outcome will be rate of Aβ deposition on serial Amyloid PET imaging, with additional outcomes using Tau PET imaging, CSF assays, volumetric MRI, and sensitive cognitive measures. We aim to build a “chain of evidence” that will link the slowing of very early Aβ accumulation to the prevention of neurodegeneration and cognitive decline that occurs in the later stages of preclinical AD. Similar to the A4 Study, the A3 Study will be a public-private-philanthropic partnership with our industry partner providing the majority of the financial support for the study conduct. We have selected 3 potential industry partners. A therapeutic selection committee will make the final choice of the BACE inhibitor and industry partner based on the up-to-date efficacy and safety data provided by the sponsors. This study will provide critical longitudinal biomarker and cognitive data that will also inform the design of future prevention trials. The A3 Study also has the potential to support regulatory approval for an even-earlier at-risk population, in combination with cognitive endpoint trials at later stages of preclinical or prodromal AD. We hope the A3 Study will serve to catalyze the next era of prevention trials to help move our field towards the primary prevention of AD.