Imperial College London

Academic Institute

Clinical Sponsor is not required

Unknown

Yes

NIBDAPC_2025_0049

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, affecting nearly one million people in the UK. It causes progressive memory loss, confusion, and a decline in daily functioning. There is currently no treatment that slows or stops its progression. Emerging research suggests that damage to small blood vessels in the brain, particularly to endothelial cells (which are the cells lining the blood vessels), may play a role in the disease. Normally, when a part of the brain is active, blood flow increases to support it. In people with AD, this response is often disrupted. The purpose of this study is to find out if we can improve blood vessel function in people with AD using a drug called XBD173. This drug targets a protein in the brain called the 18kDa Translocator Protein (TSPO), which plays a role in how cells handle stress and inflammation. Participants with Alzheimer’s will receive either XBD173 or a placebo (an inactive substance) for four weeks, then switch to the other treatment after a break. Brain scans and blood tests will be used to measure how well the blood vessels are working before and after treatment. Healthy volunteers will also be recruited to help optimise the brain scan method and provide comparison data, but they will not receive the drug. Healthy volunteers must have no history or symptoms of cognitive impairment or dementia. To take part, you also need to be able to have an MRI scan, not be pregnant or breastfeeding, and not have serious lung or kidney problems. By studying how this treatment affects brain blood flow and related biomarkers, we hope to gain insights into a new way of treating Alzheimer’s disease.

Recent evidence suggests that problems with the brain’s blood vessels occur early in AD and may be involved in causing the disease. This study explores a new approach — improving the health of these blood vessels to support brain function — using a drug called XBD173 that affects a protein involved in cellular stress and inflammation. There is an urgent need for new ways to treat AD. This study could help identify a completely new treatment target and guide future clinical trials. Although participants may not benefit directly, the findings may help develop therapies that could benefit future patients with Alzheimer’s.

Public Health Research

16/07/2025

Not applicable

Not applicable

One-off

TRE