Aged Alzheimer’s mice given oral Compound 10 showed restored mitochondrial function, smaller amyloid deposits, better neuron survival and longer survival, pointing to GRK2 stabilization as a new treatment route.
About 64% of GRK2 in a memory-critical brain region had aggregated in diseased mice versus under 9% in healthy animals; those clumps latched onto TOMM6, blocked mitochondrial pores and fueled amyloid production.
Compound 10 pushed GRK2 back toward its healthy monomeric form, crossed the blood-brain barrier and showed no notable activity across more than 40 other pharmacological targets in preclinical testing.
The work remains early: human evidence came from only a small number of patient tissue samples, while the efficacy data are from mice and cell cultures, where many Alzheimer’s candidates have later failed.
ETH Zurich has filed a patent and is seeking a commercial partner, with researchers arguing a GRK2-based drug could eventually complement existing amyloid-focused therapies rather than replace them.
After decades of failed treatments, is this new molecule the key to finally defeating Alzheimer's disease?
Could a new Alzheimer's drug also hold the secret to reversing the general effects of aging?
This discovery unlocked a hidden brain feedback loop. What other diseases might this new mechanism explain?
New Hope for Alzheimer’s: Compound 10 Slows Disease by Preventing GRK2 Aggregation and Mitochondrial Dysfunction
Overview
A research team at ETH Zurich, led by Professor Ursula Quitterer, has developed Compound 10, a small molecule that offers a new way to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Unlike traditional treatments, Compound 10 targets the aggregation of GRK2, which leads to mitochondrial dysfunction—a key factor in neuronal damage and cognitive decline. By addressing this fundamental process, Compound 10 introduces a novel therapeutic pathway that could be more effective than current approaches. This breakthrough is the result of nearly two decades of research and represents a promising step forward in Alzheimer’s therapy.