Voyager Therapeutics, Inc. presented data showing the use of novel antibodies targeting hyperphosphorylated forms of tau. Two therapeutic approaches were used to show that the spread of pathological tau can be impeded in rodent models: passive immunotherapy with novel antibodies and an intravenously delivered vectorized novel antibody using a blood-brain-barrier penetrating AAV capsid. The data were presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference.

Tauopathies such as Alzheimer's disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, and frontotemporal dementia are characterized by the progressive accumulation and/or propagation of neurofibrillary tangles associated with tau hyperphosphorylation in the brains of patients, leading to neuronal and synaptic loss, brain atrophy, and inflammation. Although current therapies are limited to symptom management and have a modest impact1, investigational therapeutics designed to disrupt the propagation of tau pathology may hold promise in the treatment of tauopathies.