Researchers have hailed a promising breakthrough in drugs used to treat Alzheimer’s disease at the University of Southampton.

For the first time, scientists have created a drug that works by targeting both key areas of a protein linked to the disease.

The study found that the medication, called RI-AG03, was effective at preventing the build-up of Tau proteins in both laboratory and fruit fly studies.

Lead author Dr Anthony Aggidis, visiting researcher at the University of Southampton, said: “Our research represents an important step toward creating treatments that can prevent the progression of diseases like Alzheimer’s disease.

“By targeting both of the key areas on the Tau protein, this unique approach could help address the growing impact of dementia on society, providing a much-needed new option for treating these devastating diseases.”

Tau proteins help to stabilise the internal skeleton of nerve cells (neurons) in the brain but Alzheimer’s disease makes these proteins malfunction, clumping together to form tangles which clog the neurons.

As more neurons die, memory, thinking, and behaviour become increasingly impaired, leading to the cognitive decline seen in Alzheimer’s.

Researchers say there are two hotspots of the Tau protein where this clumping tends to happen, although current treatments target one of these hotspots, the new drug uniquely targets and blocks both.

Amritpal Mudher, professor of neuroscience at the University of Southampton, said: “For the first time, we have a drug which is effective in inhibiting both these regions.

“This dual-targeting mechanism is significant because it addresses both domains that stimulate Tau aggregation, potentially paving the way for more effective treatments for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.”

When tested in fruit flies, the drug suppressed damage to the neurons, and extended the lives of the flies by around two weeks – a significant extension given the life span of the insects.

The researchers now plan to test the drug in rodents, before moving on to clinical trials.

They believe their work will have a significant impact on drug discovery efforts in the field of neurodegenerative diseases.