Safety and Efficacy of Semorinemab in Individuals With Prodromal to Mild Alzheimer Disease: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract

Importance: Neurofibrillary tangles composed of aggregated tau protein are one of the neuropathological hallmarks of Alzheimer disease (AD) and correlate with clinical disease severity. Monoclonal antibodies targeting tau may have the potential to ameliorate AD progression by slowing or stopping the spread and/or accumulation of pathological tau.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the monoclonal anti-tau antibody semorinemab in prodromal to mild AD.

Design, setting, and participants: This phase 2 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group clinical trial was conducted between October 18, 2017, and July 16, 2020, at 97 sites in North America, Europe, and Australia. Individuals aged 50 to 80 years (inclusive) with prodromal to mild AD, Mini-Mental State Examination scores between 20 and 30 (inclusive), and confirmed β-amyloid pathology (by positron emission tomography or cerebrospinal fluid) were included.

Interventions: During the 73-week blinded study period, participants received intravenous infusions of placebo or semorinemab (1500 mg, 4500 mg, or 8100 mg) every 2 weeks for the first 3 infusions and every 4 weeks thereafter.

Main outcomes and measures: The primary outcomes were change from baseline on the Clinical Dementia Rating-Sum of Boxes score from baseline to week 73 and assessments of the safety and tolerability for semorinemab compared with placebo.

Results: In the modified intent-to-treat cohort (n = 422; mean [SD] age, 69.6 [7.0] years; 235 women [55.7%]), similar increases were seen on the Clinical Dementia Rating-Sum of Boxes score in the placebo (n = 126; Δ = 2.19 [95% CI, 1.74-2.63]) and semorinemab (1500 mg: n = 86; Δ = 2.36 [95% CI, 1.83-2.89]; 4500 mg: n = 126; Δ = 2.36 [95% CI, 1.92-2.79]; 8100 mg: n = 84; Δ = 2.41 [95% CI, 1.88-2.94]) arms. In the safety-evaluable cohort (n = 441), similar proportions of participants experienced adverse events in the placebo (130 [93.1%]) and semorinemab (1500 mg: 89 [88.8%]; 4500 mg: 132 [94.7%]; 8100 mg: 90 [92.2%]) arms.

Conclusions and relevance: In participants with prodromal to mild AD in this randomized clinical trial, semorinemab did not slow clinical AD progression compared with placebo throughout the 73-week study period but did demonstrate an acceptable and well-tolerated safety profile. Additional studies of anti-tau antibodies may be needed to determine the clinical utility of this therapeutic approach.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03289143.

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: Dr Teng reported a patent for semorinemab pending (no royalties received) and is a shareholder of F. Hoffmann La Roche Ltd as a full-time employee of Genentech Inc. Dr Manser reported personal fees from Genentech Inc during the conduct of the study and is a shareholder of F. Hoffmann La Roche Ltd. Dr Blendstrup is a shareholder of F. Hoffmann La Roche Ltd as an employee of Genentech Inc. Dr Sanabria Bohorquez reported personal fees from Genentech during the conduct of the study and outside the submitted work. Dr Wildsmith reported personal fees from Genentech Inc outside the submitted work and is a shareholder of F. Hoffmann La Roche Ltd as a previous employee of Genentech Inc. Dr Dolton is a shareholder of F. Hoffmann La Roche Ltd as an employee of Genentech Inc. Dr Ramakrishnan is a shareholder of F. Hoffmann La Roche Ltd as an employee of Genentech Inc. Dr Sikkes is the developer of the Amsterdam Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Questionnaire (A-IADL-Q) and reported license fees for this during the conduct of the study; grants from Health~Holland and Topsector Life Sciences & Health outside the submitted work; consultancy fees from Toyama, Boehringer, Biogen, and Lundbeck outside the submitted work; and a patent for A-IADL-Q licensed to Genentech, Roche, Vivoryon, Alzheon, VtV Therapeutics, Green Valley; all consultancy and license fees, and grants are paid to the organization. Dr Ward reported a patent for semorinemab pending (no royalties received). Dr Kerchner is a shareholder of F. Hoffmann La Roche Ltd as an employee of Genentech Inc and has a patent for semorinemab pending (no royalties received). No other disclosures were reported.

Figures

Figure 1.. Participant Disposition

PI indicates principal investigator.

Figure 2.. Mixed Models for Repeated Measures–Adjusted Change From Baseline in the Placebo and Semorinemab Treatment Arms

Error bars represent 95% CIs. The numbers of participants in each dose arm assessed at each time point on each outcome measure are shown in the data beneath each graph. ADCS-ADL indicates Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study–Activities of Daily Living Scale; ADAS-Cog-13, Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale–Cognitive Subscale; A-IADL-Q, Amsterdam Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Questionnaire; CDR-SB, Clinical Dementia Rating–Sum of Boxes; RBANS, Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status.

Figure 3.. Tau Biomarkers in the Placebo and Semorinemab Treatment Arms

Error bars represent 95% CIs. Mean absolute values for baseline, week 49, and week 73 and change from baseline at weeks 49 and 73 are shown in eTable 3 in Supplement 2. Mean absolute values for baseline, week 49, and week 73 are shown in eTable 4 in Supplement 2. CSF indicates cerebrospinal fluid; pTau181, phosphorylated tau 181; ROI, region of interest; SUVR, standardized uptake value ratio; WCG, whole cortical gray. aP < .05 vs placebo arm.