Skip to main content
Home Technologies Use of rifaximin and bacterial strains for treating probable neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s Disease
Use of rifaximin and bacterial strains for treating probable neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s Disease

Use of rifaximin and bacterial strains for treating probable neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s Disease

Unmet Need

There is an urgent need to develop novel therapies for neurodegenerative diseases and conditions such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Ten percent of people over age 65 and up to 50% over age 85 have dementia, with over 30 million people affected worldwide. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved cholinesterase inhibitors (e.g., Aricept, Exelon, Razadyne), memantine (Namenda), and a drug combining a cholinesterase inhibitor and memantine (Namzaric) to treat the cognitive symptoms of neurodegenerative disorder, including AD. These medications, however, cannot cure neurodegenerative disorders or stop related progression – and the only disease-modifying treatment, a beta-amyloid targeting antibody (Aducanumab), was only recently approved under a special accelerated FDA program. As such, improved methods for treating AD are needed.

Technology

Duke inventors have developed a possible treatment for AD. The inventors hypothesized that dosing with the antibiotic rifaximin would reduce the inflammatory environment that might contribute to development and progression of AD. Specifically, treatment with rifaximin alters the gut microbiota leads to a reduction in microbial systemic toxins such as ammonia and LPS, which have been connected with inflammation associated with AD. This approach has been demonstrated in a Phase 2 trial, with significant lowering levels of biomarker NfL, as well as decreases in pTau and cytokine levels, observed after three months of oral rifaximin dosing in ten patients. In addition, this research uncovered post-administration increases in microbiome diversity overall and Firmucutes genera bacteria in particular.

Other Applications

This technology could also be used for treatment other neurodegenerative disorders, since the gut-brain inflammatory mechanism may underlie other pathologies such as ALS, Parkinson disease, mild cognitive impairment, and more.

Advantages

  • First-in-class approach to be demonstrated in humans in clinical trials
  • Targets underlying disease-forming mechanism, pointing to a possible cure and not just symptom management
  • Rifaximin is already FDA-approved for other indications, providing a simpler path to approval
  • Well tolerated antibiotic with few side effects
  • Oral administration makes for easy delivery
  • Could be used in combination therapies as rifaximin shows few drug-drug interactions
  • Microbiome changes post-administration point toward probiotic or bacterial product-derived treatments

Have Questions?

Please contact us or subscribe for more opportunities

Stay in Touch with Us