The RADAR trial in Alzheimer's disease.

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Reducing pathology in Alzheimer’s Disease through Angiotensin Targeting. The RADAR Trial. A phase II, randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trial to evaluate the effect of Losartan on brain tissue in patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease

• IRAS ID

  114410

• Contact name

  Patrick Kehoe

• Sponsor organisation

  North Bristol NHS Trust

• Eudract number

  2012-003641-15

• ISRCTN Number

  to be registered

• Research summary

  Alzheimer??s disease (AD) profoundly affects memory and brain function. It is a slow progressive disease that can last for a number of years - a heart-breaking, exhausting and often costly reality for family and health services. With an ageing population, AD health care provision needs will significantly rise. Existing treatments only temporarily treat specific imbalances in the brain but as yet there is no cure for AD. Losartan, a well-tolerated blood pressure drug, blocks a chemical pathway called angiotensin II which prevent the release of vital memory chemicals in the brain. Losartan improves memory problems in mice designed to have Alzheimer??s features and in people given chemicals to temporarily affect their memories. People who have previously taken losartan, have lower risk of developing AD compared to other blood pressure drugs. These drugs may also slow the rate of deterioration in patients with Alzheimer??s. This multi-centre clinical trial will investigate if losartan could complement current treatments for AD. We believe losartan will slow down the progression of AD by improving brain blood flow and altering chemical pathways that cause brain cell damage, brain shrinkage and memory problems in AD. Brain images will measure if losartan reduces brain shrinkage, which we know is strongly linked with reduced memory function. Blood samples taken within this study will be analysed to see whether losartan changed proteins that may be predictive of rates of disease progression. RADAR will offer great value for money if this cheap (3-4p per day) well tolerated drug is found to be beneficial in AD. RADAR will provide the requisite evidence needed to justify a much larger multi-centre trial that will be needed to provide the final proof of losartan??s benefit in AD.

• REC name

  Wales REC 2

• REC reference

  12/WA/0338

• Date of REC Opinion

  19 Feb 2013

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion