Lighthouse Pharmaceuticals is stepping into uncharted territory in Alzheimer’s research with a $49.2 million grant from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) to test a novel therapy, LHP588. This experimental drug aims at Porphyromonas gingivalis, a bacteria found in the mouth that research suggests may contribute to Alzheimer’s.

The SPRING trial (Stopping PRogression of P. gINGivalis-positive Alzheimer’s Disease with Gingipain Inhibition) will enroll 300 participants with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s who test positive for P. gingivalis. Participants will receive either LHP588 or a placebo in a double-blind study, ensuring neither they nor researchers know who receives the drug. The trial will last 48 weeks, measuring safety and whether the drug can slow cognitive decline.

LHP588 works by blocking enzymes from P. gingivalis that are believed to cause inflammation and damage in the brain. By targeting this bacteria, researchers hope to intervene in a possible root cause of Alzheimer’s rather than just addressing symptoms.

“This grant gives us a unique chance to explore a fresh approach in Alzheimer’s treatment,” said Casey Lynch, CEO of Lighthouse Pharmaceuticals. “We’re testing whether controlling a bacterial trigger can actually protect memory and brain health.”

Dr. Marwan Sabbagh, Chair of Lighthouse’s Clinical Advisory Board, added, “If successful, this trial could open a completely new pathway for treating Alzheimer’s in patients with this bacteria present.”

The SPRING trial is now enrolling at clinical sites across the U.S.

More information is available at https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06847321