Effects of monoclonal antibodies against amyloid-β on clinical and biomarker outcomes and adverse event risks: A systematic review and meta-analysis of phase III RCTs in Alzheimer's disease

Objective: To investigate the effects of monoclonal antibodies against A beta on cognition, function, amyloid PET and other biomarkers, as well as risk for amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA) and other adverse events, in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods: Pubmed, Web of Science, ClinicalTrials.gov and gray literature were searched for phase III RCTs and random-effects meta-analyses were performed. Results: Seventeen studies (12,585 patients) were included. Antibodies statistically improved the cognitive outcomes ADAS-Cog {SMD = -0.06 [95 % CI (-0.10; -0.02), I-2 = 0%]} and MMSE {SMD = 0.05 [95 % CI (0.01; 0.09), I-2 = 0%]} by small effect sizes, but did not improve the cognitive/functional measure CDR-SOB {SMD = -0.03 [95 % CI (-0.07; 0.01), I-2 = 18 %]}. Moreover, antibodies decreased amyloid PET SUVR {SMD = -1.02 [95 % CI (-1.70; -0.34), I-2 = 95 %]} and CSF p181-tau {SMD = -0.87 [95 % CI (-1.32; -0.43), I-2 = 89 %]} by large effect sizes. They also increased risk for ARIA {RR = 4.30 [95 % CI (2.39; 7.77), I-2 = 86 %]} by a large effect size. Antibody effects on reducing amyloid PET SUVR were correlated with their effects on improving ADAS-Cog (r = +0.68, p = 0.02). In subgroup analyses by individual drug, Aducanumab improved ADAS-Cog, CDR-SOB, ADCS-ADL by small effect sizes and decreased amyloid PET SUVR and CSF p181-tau by large effect sizes. Solanezumab improved ADAS-Cog and MMSE by small effect sizes, and increased (improved) CSF A beta(1-40) levels by a moderate effect size. Bapineuzumab, Gantenerumab and Crenezumab did not improve any clinical outcomes. Bapineuzumab and Gantenerumab decreased CSF p181-tau by a small and large effect size, respectively. All drugs except Solanezumab increased ARIA risk. Conclusions: In this meta-analysis of phase III trials in AD, we found that monoclonal antibodies against A beta induced clinical improvements of small effect sizes, biomarker improvements of large effect sizes, and increases in risk for the hallmark adverse event, ARIA, by a large effect size, when all drugs were pooled together. Among individual drugs, Aducanumab produced the most favorable effects followed by Solanezumab. These findings provide moderate support for the continuous development of anti-A beta monoclonal antibodies as a treatment for AD.

Automated summary

Monoclonal antibodies targeting A beta have shown small clinical improvements and large biomarker improvements in Alzheimer's disease patients. However, they also increase the risk of adverse events such as ARIA.