Mayo Clinic researchers have found that the behaviour of one Alzheimer drug could benefit the field of drug development for other diseases.

Gamma-secretase modulators (GSM), used in testing to treat Alzheimer's, reduce the production of long strands of amyloid beta protein (Abeta) which stick together and can trigger the disease.

Todd Golde, chair of the department of neuroscience at Mayo Clinic, said: "As these compounds lower the amount of the bad, longer sticky Abeta peptides in the brain, they increase the quantity of shorter Abeta peptides that may protect against development of Alzheimer's disease."

These GSMs work on the arrangement of the protein instead of targeting enzymes or cell surface receptors, a discovery which could open up new avenues for the development of drugs treating Alzheimer's and other diseases.

"These agents work on the structure, or substrate, of the protein itself, which had not been believed to be druggable," said Dr Golde.

"This broadens the notion of what drugs can do, and therefore, has wide reaching implication for future drug discovery for many different disorders."

Results from a Phase III clinical trial of the drug tarenflurbil which contains GSMs are expected this summer.

Login and visit the Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Centre

• Alzheimer's unresponsive to ginkgo biloba, study finds 19/11/08
• Rapid screening for Alzheimer's developed 19/11/08
• Key contributor to Alzheimer's identified, researchers state 14/11/08
• New Alzheimer's disease treatment delivery method discovered 12/11/08
• Increased mortality risk found in Alzheimer's sufferers with secondary conditions 04/11/08