Prevention and treatment of amyloidogenic disease

Abstract

The invention provides improved agents and methods for treatment of diseases associated with amyloid deposits of Aβ in the brain of a patient. Such methods entail administering agents that induce a beneficial immunogenic response against the amyloid deposit. The methods are useful for prophylactic and therapeutic treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Preferred agents including N-terminal fragments of Aβ and antibodies binding to the same.

1 . A pharmaceutical coiposition comprising a chimeric or humanized antibody that specifically binds to an epitope witin residues 1-3 of Aβ and a pharmaceutial carrier.  
     
     
         2 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 2 , which is a sustained release composition.  
     
     
         3 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier is a physiologically acceptable diluent for parenteral administration.  
     
     
         4 . A pharmaceutical composition comparing a chimeric or humanized antibody that specifically binds to an epitope within residues 1-3 of Aβ and a pharmaceutical carrier, wherein the isotype of the antibody is human IgG1, which is a sustained release composition.  
     
     
         5 - 6 . (canceled)  
     
     
         7 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising a chimeric or humanized antibody that specifically binds to an epitope within residues 1-3 of Aβ and a pharmaceutical carrier, wherein the isotype of the antibody is human IgG1, wherein the carrier is a physiologically acceptable diluent for parenteral administration.