Lecanemab, marketed as Leqembi, is a monoclonal antibody treatment for Alzheimer’s disease that targets and removes harmful amyloid plaques while slowing cognitive decline. Scientists from VIB and KU Leuven have now uncovered exactly how it works. Their research shows that a specific part of the antibody, known as the ‘Fc fragment’, is crucial for activating microglia — the immune cells of the brain -, which then begin clearing these toxic deposits. This study provides the first clear explanation of how this type of therapy functions, resolving long-standing questions and offering guidance for developing safer and more effective Alzheimer’s treatments. The findings were published in Nature Neuroscience.
“Our study is the first to clearly demonstrate how this anti-amyloid antibody therapy works in Alzheimer’s disease….