Towards a new inhibitor

In the near future, researchers are keen to investigate three new areas of research. The first consists of trying to understand why a minority of patients affected by Alzheimer's Disease do not exhibit high levels of ITPKB in the cortex and hippocampus. 'We also want to define the genetic or other factors which lead to the over-expression of ITPKB in the majority of patients', continues Schurmans. In the second area, research is aimed at determining whether the over-expression of this enzyme leads in humans, as it does in mice, to an aggravation of the disease. Finally, during preliminary experiments, researchers have shown that the use of an ITPKB inhibitor reduces the production of amyloid peptides by neurons in culture. Based on these results and recognising the potential of such a discovery, the major Swiss pharmaceutical company which develops this inhibitor has preferred to restrict the inhibitor to in-house use. 'We are currently working in partnership with researchers who are synthesising a new ITPKB inhibitor', says Professor Schurmans. 'If we can obtain a large quantity of this inhibitor, we will be able to see the effect which it has upon mouse models of Alzheimer's Disease'. At present, time should be set aside for largely investigative research, in order to assemble the pieces of the puzzle. Once these pieces fit, ITPKB may one day become a target for alleviating Alzheimer's Disease or slowing down its development.