Back to Journals » Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment » Volume 8

Critical appraisal of the role of davunetide in the treatment of progressive supranuclear palsy

Authors Gold, Lorenzl, Stewart, Morimoto B, Williams, Gozes I

Received 15 November 2011

Accepted for publication 21 December 2011

Published 9 February 2012 Volume 2012:8 Pages 85—93

DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/NDT.S12518

Review by Single anonymous peer review

Peer reviewer comments 4



Video abstract presented by Illana Gozes

Michael Gold1, Stefan Lorenzl2, Alistair J Stewart1, Bruce H Morimoto1, David R Williams3, Illana Gozes1,4
1Allon Therapeutics Inc, Vancouver, BC, Canada; 2Interdisciplinary Center for Palliative Medicine, Munich University Hospital Klinikum Grosshadern, Munich, Germany; 3Van Cleef/Roet Centre for Nervous Diseases, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia; 4The Dr Diana and Zelman Elton (Elbaum) Laboratory for Molecular Neuroendocrinology, The Lily and Avraham Gildor Chair for the Investigation of Growth Factors, The Adams Super Center for Brain Studies, and the Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, School of Neuroscience, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

Abstract: Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a rare neurodegenerative disease characterized by the accumulation of tau protein aggregates in the basal ganglia, brainstem and cerebral cortex leading to rapid disease progression and death. The neurofibrillary tangles that define the neuropathology of PSP are comprised of aggregated 4R tau and show a well-defined distribution. Classically, PSP is diagnosed by symptoms that include progressive gait disturbance, early falls, vertical ophthalmoparesis, akinetic-rigid features, prominent bulbar dysfunction and fronto-subcortical dementia. There are currently no effective therapies for the treatment of this rapidly degenerating and debilitating disease. Davunetide is a novel neuroprotective peptide that is thought to impact neuronal integrity and cell survival through the stabilization of microtubules. Preclinical activity in models of tauopathy has been translated to clinical studies, demonstrating pharmacologic activity that has supported further development. Davunetide's efficacy and tolerability are being tested in a placebo-controlled study in PSP patients, making it the most advanced drug candidate in this indication. This review examines the disease characteristics of PSP, the rationale for treating PSP with davunetide and assesses some of the challenges of clinical trials in this patient population.

Keywords: tau protein aggregates, neurodegenerative, neurofibrillary tangles

Creative Commons License © 2012 The Author(s). This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution - Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License. By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms.