My Alzheimer's Journey
Part 79 - Arrowhead ARO-MAPT
January 20, I introduced four emerging therapies and technologies that have seemingly great potential for new and innovative Alzheimer’s disease treatment. I have written about two of the four so far:
Today, let’s dig deep into Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals’ ARO-MAPT.
ARO-MAPT, is an investigational RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutic being developed as a potential treatment for tauopathies. Tauopathies are progressive neurodegenerative disorders that are pathologically defined by tau-positive deposits in the brain. These disorders include, Alzheimer's disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, corticobasal syndrome, some frontotemporal dementias, and chronic taumatic encephalopathy,
Just like Alector, Arrowhead has developed a proprietary delivery system that according to preclinical studies achieves successful blood-brain-barrier (BBB) penetration. The delivery system has three primary attributes:
Subcutaneous administration (less invasive than intravenous delivery)
BBB penetration (improved efficacy)
“Deep and durable gene suppression” (knocks down target genes across the central nervous system)
The investigational drug, ARO-MAPT, is designed to silence the gene responsible for producing toxic tau protein. Under normal conditions, tau proteins have an important and positive purpose. In pathological states, tau proteins undergo an abnormal modification that ultimately results in the pathogenesis (process by which a disease develops, progresses, and manifests) of Alzheimer’s disease.
It makes sense that a targeted delivery system would result in much better results of ARO-MAPT, than intravenous delivery.
December 8, 2025, Arrowhead began a Phase 1/2a clinical trial of ARO-MAPT. James Hamilton, M.D., Chief Medical Officer and Head of R&D at Arrowhead, said, “Our ongoing Phase 1/2 study will evaluate single and multiple doses of ARO-MAPT in healthy volunteers and, in parallel, multiple doses of ARO-MAPT in patients with early Alzheimer’s disease. We anticipate initial data for the first parts of this study will be available in the second half of 2026.”
Pre-clinical studies of ARO-MAPT using primates demonstrated successful tau protein suppression. In fact, Arrowhead reported that based on those results, ARO-MAPT could potentially enable monthly or quarterly subcutaneous dosing. That would be awesome!
I will follow the Phase 1/2a clinical trial and post all updates.
Speaking of updates:
DB did not build a snow cat this weekend. With temperatures in the single digits and low teens, it was too cold to go outside. Even for a polar bear!
We are upgrading our store and adding new premium products. One product that I added to the store this morning is the Robin Clock. We have been approved as an official retailer for the Robin Clock. This is an awesome clock for people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
I get my ninth Lecanemab infusion tomorrow morning.
Our cost of living and my treatment-related expenses are always a challenge to meet.
Please consider supporting us by making a Go Fund Me donation, a Buy Big Bit A Treat donation, purchase a gift from my Amazon wish list, and/or shop at my store.
Thank you for joining me on this dreadful journey. Your support means the world to me.