A new international clinical trial, the PrevenTRON study, is testing the drug trontinemab in healthy individuals to see if it can prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.

The Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS foundation trust is launching a phase III clinical trial to test the drug trontinemab on healthy middle-aged people at risk of Alzheimer’s. The study, known as PrevenTRON, aims to determine if the drug can prevent dementia before symptoms emerge. Researchers are recruiting approximately 1,600 participants aged 55 to 80 globally, with the first European screenings beginning this Monday.

Screening and Methodology

Participants will undergo memory assessments and blood tests to detect p-tau217, a biomarker linked to cognitive decline. Research indicates that high levels of p-tau217 are associated with a 78% chance of developing cognitive impairment within 10 years, and blood tests for the marker can identify Alzheimer’s with up to 95% accuracy. Those who meet the criteria will be randomly assigned to receive either trontinemab or a placebo and monitored for four to six years.

The Role of Trontinemab

Developed by the Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche, trontinemab targets amyloid plaques, which are toxic proteins that accumulate in the brain and damage cells. Early research showed the drug cleared these plaques in nine out of 10 people with early-stage Alzheimer’s or mild cognitive impairment within 28 weeks. Prof Ramin Nilforooshan, the trial's chief investigator, noted that while the study represents a shift toward prevention, the drug remains experimental and its efficacy is still being tested.