With dementia in Australia an increasing issue, arly intervention is key. However, treatment options are limited.

However, Australian researchers are looking to change that, with a new dementia treatment set to be trialled.

Australia will trial a world-leading experimental dementia drug next month that may prevent the disease before symptoms appear.

Local researchers will test whether the injectable drug, known as Remternetug, can delay or even stop the onset of Alzheimer’s disease in Australia before noticeable symptoms appear.

So, what will be involved in the trial, and how does the drug work?

How will the trial work?

More than a dozen sites across Australia — including Royal Melbourne and Box Hill hospitals — will participate in the trial.

Researchers are looking to find as many volunteers for the trial as possible, with a recruitment time of just a few months. Trial participants will receive 12 injections over a year and a half. However, depending on the results, the trial may be extended.

Remternetug is designed for self-injection every one to two months.

As part of the study, participants must undergo an MRI. Half of the participants will receive a placebo.

If successful, the drug could open the door for early screening programs. For example, a blood test could be offered to those aged 60 or 70.

Who can participate in the trial?

The trial is targeting patients who may be experiencing early symptoms of dementia. For example, they may notice getting lost while driving or receive concern from family and friends. To be eligible to take part in the trial, participants must be aged between 65 and 80. In addition, they must not have received a dementia diagnosis and must achieve a normal score on a cognitive test.

How would the drug work?

Dementia is thought to be caused by the build-up of two proteins in the brain. Professor Amy Brodtmann is the lead of Cognitive Neurology at Royal Melbourne Hospital. She says that while the Tau protein is responsible for brain degeneration, another protein called Amyloid has to be present for this to occur.

“We know that tau is the one that seems to actually drive the degeneration of the brain, but there’s an understanding that the amyloid has to be there before the tau can do its damage,” she told the Herald Sun.

“Why don’t we try to drive down the amyloid first so that the tau can’t go and do its mischief?”

The new drug aims to stop the build-up of Amyloid and the associated brain damage by reducing the protein’s stickiness.

Recent developments have seen two drugs aimed at targeting the Amyloid protein become available in the US. These drugs — Lecanemab and Donanemab — are designed to remove clumps of amyloid.

However, these drugs have not yet been approved in Australia. Additionally, they are not available for patients pre-diagnosis.

With dementia an increasing scourge on society, researchers are confident that more treatments will soon be available.

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For details on the trial, contact dementiatrials@mh.org.au for the site at RMH and ecru.cognitivereferrals@monash.edu for Box Hill Hospital’s site.
All other Victorian and interstate locations can be found online.

Article References

Aged Care Insite (12 May 2025) ‘“As many people as possible”: Researchers recruit for promising dementia drug trial’, Aged Care Insite, accessed 13 May 2025.

Booth, S (9 May 2025) ‘Drug that stops dementia to be trialled in Australia next month’, Herald Sun, accessed 13 May 2025.