Abstract
A major strategy for the development of a disease-modifying therapy against Alzheimers disease is pharmacological intervention designed to reduce levels of β-amyloid in the brain. Among various ways of reducing β-amyloid production, the inhibition of β-secretase (memapsin 2, BACE) is particularly attractive. Not only does β-secretase initiates the amyloid cascade, it also is an aspartic protease, a class of proteases for which successful inhibitor drugs have been developed to treat AIDS patients. Extensive efforts in research and development of a β-secretase inhibitor drug have taken place in many laboratories during the past few years. However, no drug candidate is currently in clinical trials. In spite of the lack of obvious success, much progress has been made to incorporate the drug-like properties in the evolution of better inhibitors. The inhibitors from more recent generations are indeed similar in characteristics to other protease inhibitor drugs. This progress permits optimism that development of clinical candidates of β-secretase inhibitor drugs is a realistic goal.
Keywords: β-secretase, memapsin 2, BACE inhibitor
Current Alzheimer Research
Title: Memapsin 2 (Beta-Secretase) Inhibitor Drug, between Fantasy and Reality
Volume: 4 Issue: 4
Author(s): Arun K. Ghosh, Geoffrey Bilcer, Lin Hong, Gerald Koelsch and Jordan Tang
Affiliation:
Keywords: β-secretase, memapsin 2, BACE inhibitor
Abstract: A major strategy for the development of a disease-modifying therapy against Alzheimers disease is pharmacological intervention designed to reduce levels of β-amyloid in the brain. Among various ways of reducing β-amyloid production, the inhibition of β-secretase (memapsin 2, BACE) is particularly attractive. Not only does β-secretase initiates the amyloid cascade, it also is an aspartic protease, a class of proteases for which successful inhibitor drugs have been developed to treat AIDS patients. Extensive efforts in research and development of a β-secretase inhibitor drug have taken place in many laboratories during the past few years. However, no drug candidate is currently in clinical trials. In spite of the lack of obvious success, much progress has been made to incorporate the drug-like properties in the evolution of better inhibitors. The inhibitors from more recent generations are indeed similar in characteristics to other protease inhibitor drugs. This progress permits optimism that development of clinical candidates of β-secretase inhibitor drugs is a realistic goal.
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Cite this article as:
Ghosh K. Arun, Bilcer Geoffrey, Hong Lin, Koelsch Gerald and Tang Jordan, Memapsin 2 (Beta-Secretase) Inhibitor Drug, between Fantasy and Reality, Current Alzheimer Research 2007; 4 (4) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/156720507781788864
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/156720507781788864 |
Print ISSN 1567-2050 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-5828 |
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