The existing HIV medication Efavirenz may potentially also be effective for Alzheimer’s patients by lowering cholesterol in the brain. A clinical trial to test this began in fall 2024 at Amsterdam UMC, and now the first patient has completed treatment. Participants are still being recruited.

The research is led by Amsterdam Neuroscience researcher Rik van der Kant and neurologist Jort Vijverberg of Amsterdam UMC – Alzheimer Center Amsterdam. Van der Kant has been researching new drugs for Alzheimer’s disease for years, using groundbreaking technology that allows him to test hundreds of potential medications simultaneously.

Promising step

I discovered that cholesterol buildup in brain cells of Alzheimer’s patients directly leads to an accumulation of the toxic proteins Tau and Amyloid.
Rik van der Kant
Assistant Professor

Van der Kant explains: “Efavirenz turned out to be suitable for reversing this buildup. It’s very special and unique to do all of this ourselves, within the walls of Amsterdam UMC.” Vijverberg is also hopeful. “We are very curious to see how this medication will work in Alzheimer’s patients, I consider it a promising step in the right direction.”

Participants needed

The trial is still looking for participants. In total, forty patients are needed to take part in the three-month clinical trial in Amsterdam. Participants can take part if they have been diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease, are between 50 and 75 years old, and have a family member or caregiver who can accompany them to the research center visits and answer questions about their health and daily functioning. If participants are unsure whether they want to or are able to take part, they can always register without obligation. Their eligibility to participate will be assessed at a later stage.”

For more information, visit Efavirenz – Brain Research Center