Phase 3 clinical trials have validated the clinical efficacy of some anti-amyloid β (Aβ) antibody therapies, such as lecanemab and donanemab. To date, several clinical trials of anti-Aβ drugs have been conducted. However, most of these methods have been unsuccessful. Various Aβ aggregates are present during Aβ aggregation. The difference in the clinical efficacy of anti-Aβ antibody therapy may be attributed to variations in the Aβ aggregates targeted. Lecanemab primarily targets protofibrils, and donanemab targets plaques. Solanezumab and bapinezumab target Aβ aggregates of monomers alone or from monomers to low molecular weight oligomers. Anti-Aβ antibody therapies with clinical cognitive efficacy are thus characterized by targeting large-molecular-weight Aβ aggregates, such as protofibrils and plaques. In addition, a positive association was observed between the reduction in amyloid deposition and the inhibition of cognitive decline.
Keywords: Amyloid β-protein; donanemab; lecanemab.