Hawaii Memory & Alzheimer’s Research has joined leading academic institutions—including UCSF, UC San Diego, and the Cleveland Clinic—in a multicenter clinical trial investigating VHB937, a novel TREM2-stabilizing monoclonal antibody engineered to cross the blood–brain barrier and reduce neuroinflammation in Alzheimer’s disease. This collaboration represents an important step in advancing immune-targeted therapies for early Alzheimer’s disease .
Targeting Neuroinflammation in Alzheimer’s Disease
Growing evidence suggests that immune mechanisms play a central role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). According to Nature Neuroscience, targeting immune cells and immunologically relevant pathways may offer therapeutic opportunities beyond currently approved amyloid-beta monoclonal antibody treatments .
One such immune pathway involves Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid cells 2 (TREM2), an innate immune receptor expressed on microglia. Loss-of-function variants of TREM2 have been associated with increased Alzheimer’s disease risk, highlighting TREM2 activation as a promising therapeutic strategy.
What Is VHB937?
VHB937 is a high-affinity human TREM2-activating monoclonal antibody designed to enhance microglial function and reduce neuroinflammation. What distinguishes VHB937 is its advanced engineering: the antibody incorporates a monovalent transferrin receptor (TfR) binding site, known as an Antibody Transport Vehicle (ATV).
This ATV technology facilitates transcytosis across the blood–brain barrier, allowing the therapeutic antibody to reach its target within the central nervous system more effectively than conventional monoclonal antibodies .
About the Phase II Clinical Study
The investigation of VHB937 is being conducted as a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group Phase II study, followed by an open-label extension.
Study Design Highlights
- Participants: Individuals with early Alzheimer’s disease
- Double-blind phase: 72 weeks
- Extension phase: Ongoing follow-up after the blinded period
- Primary objectives:
- Evaluate the safety of VHB937
- Assess its effects on memory and cognitive function
- Measure impact on daily functioning
- Observe changes in the brain associated with treatment
- Analyze how VHB937 is processed by the body and the body’s response to it
This study aims to determine whether VHB937 is both safe and potentially beneficial for people in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease .
National Collaboration with Local Impact
Participation in this study places Hawaiʻi alongside major mainland research institutions in the effort to develop next-generation Alzheimer’s therapies. The inclusion of Hawaii Memory & Alzheimer’s Research ensures that local patients and families have access to cutting-edge clinical trials while contributing to global scientific progress.
Research Leadership in Hawaiʻi
The study is led locally by Kore Kai Liow, MD, Neurologist and Principal Investigator at the Hawaii Memory Disorders Center & Alzheimer’s Research Unit, and Clinical Professor of Medicine (Neurology) and Graduate Faculty in Clinical & Translational Research at the University of Hawaiʻi John A. Burns School of Medicine.
“Our Hawaii patients, caregivers, families, neurologists, and researchers are honored to be selected to contribute to the fight against neurodegenerative diseases and the efforts to improve the lives of those living with them.”
Kore Kai Liow, MD
Advancing the Future of Alzheimer’s Treatment
By combining immune modulation, advanced antibody engineering, and blood–brain barrier transport technology, VHB937 represents a novel approach to addressing neuroinflammation in Alzheimer’s disease. This study reflects the growing shift toward precision, mechanism-based therapies that target underlying disease biology rather than symptoms alone.
