At the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference, researchers from Voyager Therapeutics Inc. presented preclinical efficacy data for VY-1706, a blood-brain barrier-penetrant AAV9 gene therapy designed to reduce tau levels in models of Alzheimer’s disease (AD).
The Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) is the world’s biggest dementia conference. And at the AAIC 2026 meeting, there is big buzz around tau. Sunday’s plenary speaker Ryan Watts, CEO of Denali Therapeutics Inc., highlighted tau-lowering agents as being among the most exciting themes of the conference. “At this conference, we’re going to see additional clinical data that may validate [tau as] a second target in Alzheimer’s disease, amyloid being the first,” he told the audience.
Neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and frontotemporal dementia are characterized by the accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau protein, forming neurofibrillary tangles, ultimately leading to synaptic dysfunction and cognitive decline.
Voyager Therapeutics Inc. has obtained IND clearance from the FDA for VY-1706, the company’s investigational gene therapy for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.
Biogen Inc. has decided to advance diranersen (BIIB-080) into registrational trials for early Alzheimer’s disease, even though the antisense oligonucleotide therapy, originally discovered by Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc., missed its phase II primary endpoint.
Researchers at INSERM and collaborators have identified hypothalamic tanycytes as mediators of tau clearance and shown that their structural and genetic disruption may drive Alzheimer’s disease pathology.
Researchers at INSERM and collaborators have identified hypothalamic tanycytes as mediators of tau clearance and shown that their structural and genetic disruption may drive Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology. AD is characterized by the buildup of extracellular amyloid-β plaques and intracellular tau tangles, protein aggregates that disrupt neuronal function and drive neurodegeneration.
Tau is an intrinsically disordered protein that regulates the stability and dynamics of microtubules in physiological conditions. Recent work has revealed the involvement of tau in various neuronal processes. Researchers from the University of California and collaborators aimed to systematically investigate the cellular factors that control the accumulation of tau aggregates in human neurons.
Brain-derived tau, a protein that is exclusive to the brain and detectable in the blood, could serve as an indicator of brain damage after an ischemic stroke. The analysis of this special form of tau has revealed a relationship between high levels of the protein and extensive brain injury, a higher risk of complications, and poorer outcomes.
Experts agree that the earlier Alzheimer's disease is detected, the sooner action can be taken. And so, the key to preventing deterioration is identifying the most effective early biomarkers, those that can spot the disorder and help halt its progression. Recent advances in the field have pushed a new era of early detection through blood-based biomarkers and personalized medicine strategies based on each patient’s genetic, immunological and clinical profile.
