At a glance
- What the study gets you
- Access to the study treatment being tested
- Type of study
- Interventional (receives a drug or procedure)
- Time in hospital
- In-person visits at study sites — visit count not specified by the sponsor
- Drug or intervention
- NIO752 (drug), Placebo (other)
- How long the study runs
- Study runs about 20 months (dates as stated)
- About the drug or intervention
- NIO752 — drug: Antisense oligonucleotide · Placebo — other: Saline
- Patient visit burden
- Not specified by the sponsor
In plain English
This study looks at whether a drug called NIO752 can reduce the making of a protein called tau in the brain, which is linked to Alzheimer's disease. The trial is run by University College London with a company called Novartis. Tau levels will be measured using a process called SILK.
Who can take part
- Aged 21 to 80 years old
- Diagnosed with mild or moderate Alzheimer's disease (Clinical Dementia Rating score of 0.5 to 2)
- Tests (spinal fluid, PET scan, or blood tests) that support the Alzheimer's diagnosis, or carrying certain gene changes (presenilin or amyloid precursor protein) that cause inherited Alzheimer's disease
- Fluent in English
- Has a reliable study partner or carer
- Able to have lumbar punctures, MRI scans, and spinal fluid and blood samples taken
- Willing to allow samples and personal data to be shared with Novartis
Who may not be able to
- Living in a nursing or dementia care facility
- Significant abnormal laboratory test results
- Suicide attempt or suicidal thoughts needing hospital admission in the past 12 months
- Use of any experimental therapy within 180 days (or 5 half-lives, if longer) before the study
- Previous use of MAPT antisense oligonucleotides, other antisense oligonucleotides, or gene therapy for Alzheimer's disease
- Allergic reactions to the study treatment, similar drugs, or their ingredients
- Any condition raising the risk of meningitis, unless receiving suitable preventive treatment
- Another medical or brain condition (not Alzheimer's) that could affect thinking or memory tests
- Any other condition the researcher believes would make taking part unsuitable
- Unlikely to attend visits or follow study instructions
- Drinking more than 14 units of alcohol a week, current cannabis use, or alcohol or drug misuse in the past 2 years (smoking nicotine is allowed)
- Taking certain medicines, including immunosuppressants, antipsychotics, lithium, neuroleptics, dopaminergic agonists, L-dopa, or monoamine oxidase inhibitors; memory medicines (cholinesterase inhibitors or memantine) are allowed if the dose has been stable for 12 weeks
- Unable to have an MRI scan (for example due to claustrophobia, metal implants, or a pacemaker)
- Significant cerebrovascular (blood vessel) disease in the brain
- Sexually active men who will not use a condom during intercourse until at least 15 weeks after treatment
- Breastfeeding or pregnant women, and women who could become pregnant unless using highly effective contraception
- Taking regular blood-thinning medicines (anticoagulants or anti-platelets) that would prevent lumbar puncture
- Testing positive for HIV, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C
What taking part involves
- • Taking the study drug NIO752 (how it is given is not stated — ask the trial team)
- • Lumbar punctures (a needle in the lower back to collect spinal fluid)
- • MRI scans of the brain
- • Blood tests
- • Tau production measured using a process called SILK
Time commitment: Number and length of visits, and total study duration, are not stated — ask the trial team; taking part involves lumbar punctures, MRI scans, spinal fluid and blood samples.
Plain-English summary (AI-generated) from registry data. Not eligibility advice — only the trial team can confirm whether you can take part. Use the eligibility checker to see how your health profile matches this trial.
- Type of study
- Testing a treatment
- Ages
- 21 Years to 80 Years
- Who
- All
- Number of participants
- 10
- Started
- 2024-11-18
- Last checked
- 2026-01
Plain English Summary
What is this study?
- • Testing a new treatment for alzheimer disease
- • Phase1 - 10 participants
- • This study will assess if drug (NIO752) reduces production of a protein, tau, by the brain
Who can take part?
- • Ages 21 Years to 80 Years
- • Diagnosed with alzheimer disease
Where?
- • London - University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
This is a simplified summary. Always discuss with your doctor before making any decisions.
About This Trial
This study will assess if drug (NIO752) reduces production of a protein, tau, by the brain. Normally tau maintains the internal skeleton of nerve cells. In Alzheimer's disease (AD) it builds up in the brain, causing damage. Abnormal tau proteins cling to each other forming 'tangles' inside nerve cells, which interfere with how the nerve cells work, and eventually die. This is what causes the symptoms of dementia. It is thought that NIO752 reduces production of tau.
How this trial compares with your answers
Answer 2 more questions to improve match
What we know so far
Still need:
- • Tell us your age for better matching
- • Tell us your sex for better matching
Preliminary match based on your answers. Full eligibility requires on-site assessment including medical history, physical exam, and lab tests. This does not guarantee enrolment.
Eligibility at a Glance
Key info
- Age: 21 Years - 80 Years
- Who can join: All genders
What the study is looking for
- ✓Able to provide signed agreement to take part.
- ✓Between 21 to 80 years old (inclusive).
- ✓A diagnosis of mild or moderate Alzheimer's disease by a Clinical Dementia Rating score of 0.5 to 2, where the...
- ✓Fluency in English
- ✓Participant has a reliable study partner or caregiver
Who cannot take part
- ✗Live in a skilled nursing facility or dementia care facility.
- ✗Any clinically significant laboratory abnormality
- ✗Attempted suicide, suicidal ideation with a plan that required hospital admission within 12 months prior to Screening
- ✗Any previous use of experimental therapy within 180 days or 5 half-lives prior to Day 1, whichever is greater.
- ✗Any previous use of MAPT antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) or any other ASO or other gene therapy meant as treatment...
See the full criteria
Where Is This Study? (1 UK site)
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
London NW1 2PG, United Kingdom
How to Get in Touch
Ross Paterson
Sponsor contactCONTACT
Lisa French
Sponsor contactCONTACT
