ClinicalTrials.gg
Not yet recruitingNCT06911944ALADDINUpdated May 15, 2026

Amyloid Lowering for Alzheimer's in Down's With Donanemab Investigation

A Phase 4 interventional study of Donanemab and Placebo in Down Syndrome (DS), Down Syndrome (Trisomy 21) and Alzheimer Disease, sponsored by Michael Rafii, MD, PhD. Not yet recruiting. Open to participants aged 35 Years to 50 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-05-15.

Sponsored by Michael Rafii, MD, PhD · Phase 4, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
60
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
35 Years to 50 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if donanemab can reduce levels of amyloid in the brain, and if donanemab is safe and well-tolerated in participants with Down syndrome.

The main questions it aims to answer are: Does donanemab reduce amyloid in the brain? Is donanemab safe and well-tolerated in people with Down syndrome? Researchers will compare donanemab to a placebo (a look-alike substance that contains no drug) to see if donanemab works to reduce levels of amyloid in the brain.

Participants in the study will be 35-50 years old and will be in the study for 12 months. Participants will then stay in the study for an additional 12 months in an long-term extension where all participants will receive donanemab. Participants who had a reduction in amyloid (measured by amyloid brain scan) by the end of the first 12 months will receive placebo for the long-term extension, while participants who did not have an amyloid reduction will receive study donanemab for the long-term extension. Everyone (participants and study staff) will remain blinded to treatment for the duration of the study.

Participants will:

  • Have intravenous (IV) infusions of donanemab (or placebo) every 4 weeks
  • Visit the clinic once every other month for checkups and tests. These tests will include brain scans (magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] and positron emission tomography [PET] ), blood draws and memory tests.
  • Have a study partner who who can provide information about the participant and can join participant for some of the study visits.
Read the detailed description

The conduct of this Phase 4 clinical study is intended to evaluate the effect of donanemab, a humanized monoclonal antibody, on brain amyloid (centiloids), in the non-demented DS population, with the primary objective of reducing amyloid accumulation. Concurrently, the study aims to investigate the safety and tolerability, and therapeutic potential of donanemab while maintaining the safety and tolerability observed in clinical studies in early AD populations up to the dose of 1400mg.

Safety, tolerability, and efficacy of donanemab will be assessed in a non-demented DS population in the range of 35-50 years of age who are cognitively stable or have Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), which could indicate preclinical and prodromal AD, in a genetic population with ≥18 centiloids on amyloid-PET.

The study will have a duration of approximately 12 months (52 weeks). A long-term extension (LTE) will also be included, lasting an additional 12 months (52 weeks).

02

Conditions studied

  • Down Syndrome (DS)
  • Down Syndrome (Trisomy 21)
  • Alzheimer Disease
  • Amyloid Beta Protein
03

In context

Down Syndrome

438 studies on the registry are indexed under Down Syndrome; 99 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 60 is above the median of 37 across 286 interventional studies indexed under Down Syndrome.

Browse Down Syndrome studies →

Lead sponsor

This is the only study on the registry with Michael Rafii, MD, PhD as lead sponsor.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
35 Years to 50 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  1. Documentation of the participant's to study procedures
  2. Ages 35-50 years (inclusive).
  3. Plasma Phosphorylated tau (pTau) 217 levels at screening consistent with amyloid PET eligibility.
  4. Diagnosis of Down syndrome (including trisomy 21, mosaic trisomy 21, Robertsonian translocation trisomy 21, or partial trisomy 21) as confirmed by medical record review or Karyotype genetic testing.
  5. Intelligence quotient (IQ) equal to or greater than 40 based on Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test, Second Edition.
  6. Participants must be in good general health as evidenced by medical history with no diagnosis of dementia.
  7. Elevated brain amyloid (>18 centiloids) at screening.
  8. Stable dose of permitted medications as described protocol for 4 weeks prior to screening.
  9. In the opinion of the site PI, has a study partner able and willing to provide accurate information (including clinical symptoms and medical history) about the participant and participate in study visits and informant-based assessments (usually requires at least 5 hours of contact per week) for the duration of the study.
  10. As assessed by the site PI, participant is likely to be able to comply with the protocol for the duration of the study, and has adequate vision, hearing (hearing aid permitted), and literacy sufficient for compliance with required testing procedures.
  11. Must complete all screening evaluations as outlined in protocol

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Females who are lactating or pregnant (as confirmed by a urine pregnancy test) during screening, or plan to become pregnant during the study.
  2. Females of or males with a female partner of childbearing potential who did not use a highly effective method of within 28 days of screening alongside with a suitable barrier method (e.g., male condom) and/or are not willing to use both methods for the duration of their participation in the study and for 3 months after the last dose of study drug.
  3. Weight less than 40kg at screening.
  4. Lack of good venous access such that intravenous (IV) drug delivery or multiple blood draws would be precluded.
  5. Suspected or known allergic reactions, adverse reactions, or to humanized monoclonal antibodies or any components of the study treatments (donanemab or placebo).
  6. Previous treatment with donanemab unless there is firm evidence that the participant received placebo only.
  7. Prior or current treatment with a prohibited medication as described in protocol.
  8. Enrollment in another study, or intake of investigational drug, within 30 days prior to screening or five half-lives of the investigational drug, whichever is longer.
  9. MRI scan at screening showing a single area of cerebral vasogenic edema, superficial siderosis, or evidence of a prior macro-hemorrhage, or showing more than one (1) cerebral microhemorrhage (regardless of their anatomical location with a diagnostic characterization as "definite"), evidence of space occupying lesions, more than two (2) lacunar infarcts, or one (1) infarct larger than 1cm in diameter, severe white matter disease, and structural evidence of alternative pathology not consistent with AD and considered to be at the origin of participant's symptoms.

    NOTE: Small incidental meningiomas and arachnoid cysts (\<1cm in diameter) may be permitted with Medical Monitor review and approval.

  10. (s) to MRI studies, including metal (ferromagnetic) implants, a cardiac pacemaker or other devices that are not compatible with MRI, and/or severe claustrophobia.
  11. Contraindications to amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) imaging and/or use of florbetapir.
  12. Any unstable and/or medical condition likely to hamper the evaluation of safety and/or efficacy of study drug (e.g., moderate and/or severe untreated obstructive sleep apnea, clinically significant reduction in serum B12 or folate levels, clinically significant abnormalities of thyroid function, stroke, or other cerebrovascular conditions), as per the site PI's judgement.
  13. History of severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) including, but not limited to: severe allergic reaction to previous vaccines, foods, and/or medications.
  14. Hospitalization within 30 days prior to screening or baseline.
  15. Clinically significant infections or major surgical operation within 3 months prior to screening.
  16. History of chronic or recurrent infections judged to be clinically significant by the site PI and which would potentially hamper the evaluation of efficacy and safety assessments.
  17. Myocardial infarction within one (1) year prior to baseline, unstable angina pectoris, or significant coronary artery disease.
  18. History of cancer within the past five (5) years other than treated squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma and melanoma in-situ, in-situ prostate cancer, or in-situ breast cancer, which have been fully removed and are considered cured.
  19. History or presence of immunological or inflammatory conditions, including neurological disorders, judged to be clinically significant by the site PI.
  20. History of meningitis or meningoencephalitis.
  21. History of moderate or severe traumatic brain injury.
  22. History or presence of uncontrolled seizures. If history of seizures, they must be well controlled with no occurrence of seizures in the 2 years prior to study screening. The use of antiepileptic medications is permitted.
  23. Concomitant or past history of psychiatric or neurologic disorder (e.g., head injury with loss of consciousness, symptomatic stroke, Parkinson's disease, severe carotid occlusive disease, , hemorrhagic and/or non-hemorrhagic stroke) other than those considered to be related to AD.
  24. , 5th edition (DSM-5) criteria for drug or alcohol abuse or dependence currently met within the past 5 years.
  25. Significant risk of suicide defined, using the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) (Child Version), as the participant answering "yes" to suicidal ideation questions 4 or 5 or answering "yes" to suicidal behavior within the past 12 months.
  26. Clinically significant abnormal vital signs including sustained sitting blood pressure >160/90 millimeters of mercury (mmHg).
  27. Participants with diabetes mellitus with (HbA1c) levels of ≥8.0%.
  28. In the opinion of the site PI, clinically significant deviations from normal values for hematologic parameters, liver function tests, and other biochemical measures.
  29. Participants with a known history of (HIV-1 and 2).
  30. Participants with known history of acute/chronic or C.
  31. Clinically significant arrhythmias or other clinically significant abnormalities on (ECG) at screening (minor abnormalities documented as clinically insignificant by the site PI are allowed).
  32. Residing in a continuous care nursing facility.
  33. For participants undergoing Lumbar Puncture (LP) as part of the optional longitudinal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarker sub-study, any contraindication to LP including, but not limited to: inability to tolerate an appropriately flexed position for the time necessary to perform an LP; (INR) >1.4 or other metrics indicating coagulopathy; count of \<120,000/microliter(μL); infection at the desired lumbar puncture site; taking anti-coagulant medication within 90 days of LP (Note: low dose (up to 81 milligram (mg)) aspirin is permitted); degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine; suspected or known non-communicating hydrocephalus or intracranial mass, or elevated intracranial pressure from any cause; prior history of spinal mass or trauma.
  34. Participants unwilling to learn their APOE genotype and/or amyloid PET scan results
  35. Participants who are apolipoprotein E ε4 (APOE ε4) homozygotes.
  36. Participants who receive anti-coagulants or thrombolytics within 30 days prior to baseline. Any use of anticoagulants or thrombolytics during the study will lead to discontinuation of the study drug.
  37. Participants with clotting disorders.
  38. Any condition, which in the opinion of the site PI, Coordinating Center, regulatory sponsor, or Project Lead/Protocol PI, makes the participant unsuitable for inclusion.
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(15)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

Informed consent

Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.

You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.

Childbearing potential

Able to become pregnant: from the first period until menopause, unless permanently unable to through surgery (removal of the womb, or of both ovaries or both fallopian tubes).

Criteria for people of childbearing potential usually ask for a negative pregnancy test and for contraception during the study and for a time after it.

Contraception

Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.

Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.

Hypersensitivity

An allergy, or another reaction of the immune system, to a substance. “Hypersensitivity to the study drug” means a known allergic reaction to it — not every side effect a medicine can have.

Investigational drug or device

A drug or device being studied in a clinical trial.

It may be new, or already approved and being studied for another use, dose or form. Criteria often leave out people who took part in another study of one within a recent period, commonly 30 days or five half-lives.

Contraindication

A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.

Clinically significant

Judged by the study doctor to matter for your health or for the study. It is a doctor’s decision, so ask the study team if you are unsure whether something counts.

TIA (transient ischaemic attack)

A “mini-stroke”: temporary stroke-like symptoms caused by reduced blood flow to part of the brain, spinal cord or eye, without signs of a new stroke on a scan.

Stroke symptoms need emergency care at once, even if they go away.

DSM diagnostic criteria

The American Psychiatric Association’s manual of mental health diagnoses. DSM-5 (2013, revised as DSM-5-TR in 2022) replaced DSM-IV, and some studies still name the older edition. “Meets DSM criteria for …” means diagnosed by that edition’s diagnostic criteria, usually by a clinician in an interview.

HbA1c

A blood test of average blood sugar over the past two to three months, given as a percentage or in mmol/mol. 6.5% (48 mmol/mol) or more is the usual threshold for diabetes, normally confirmed by a second test.

HIV

The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.

Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.

Hepatitis B tests

Hepatitis B is a virus that infects the liver. These are separate tests: HBsAg positive usually means a current infection (a recent vaccination can briefly cause it too); total anti-HBc (HBcAb) positive means an infection now or in the past; HBV DNA measures how much virus is in the blood.

Some studies accept a past infection if HBV DNA is undetectable, sometimes with antiviral medicine during the study. Check what this study allows.

ECG (electrocardiogram)

A recording of the heart’s electrical activity, taken with stickers on the chest, arms and legs. It takes a few minutes and does not hurt.

INR, PT and aPTT (clotting tests)

Blood tests of how long blood takes to clot. The INR is the prothrombin time (PT) put on a common scale; about 1 is usual for someone not taking a blood thinner.

Criteria often make an exception for people on a blood thinner such as warfarin, whose INR is raised on purpose.

Platelets

Blood cells that help blood clot. Too few raises the risk of bleeding and bruising. A usual adult range is about 150–400 × 10⁹/L (150,000–400,000 per µL); each lab has its own reference range.

05

Study design

Phase
Phase 4
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Quadruple (Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
60 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    donanemab

    Donanemab will be administered per label instructions and the pharmacy manual as an IV infusion every 4 weeks using an up-titration regimen that will allow participants to reach a target dose of 1400 mg within 12 weeks

    Drug: Donanemab

  • Placebo comparator
    placebo

    Drug: Placebo

Interventions

  • Donanemab will be administered as an IV infusion every 4 weeks using an up-titration regimen that will allow participants to reach a target dose of 1400 mg within 24 weeks.

    Also known as: Kisunla

  • DrugPlacebo

    The control product (placebo) will be supplied in vials containing 350 mg/20 mL of donanemab Placebo for donanemab is supplied to the clinical site to match the active study intervention and contains only inactive ingredients. Normal sterile saline solution (0.9% sodium chloride) will be used for dilution.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Change from baseline on brain amyloid levels

    Change in brain amyloid measured by amyloid PET imaging (amyloid centiloid levels) from baseline to 12 months. An increase indicates a worsening.

    Time frame: 12 months

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change from baseline to 12 months in the Modified Cued Recall Test (mCRT)

    The Modified Cued Recall Test (mCRT) is a cognitive assessment tool designed to evaluate memory and has been modified from a version developed for adults from the typical population. 12 items are presented for learning, 4 at a time, with each item accompanied by a unique category cue. The testing phase consists of 3 trials. Each trial begins with free recall of the test items; following free recall, a category cue is provided for those items not spontaneously recalled. Two scores are generated from the test, a Free Recall Score and a Total Score. A higher score indicates a better outcome.

    Time frame: From baseline to 12 months

  2. Change from baseline in whole brain volume

    Change in whole brain volume as measured by MRI. A decrease indicates a worsening.

    Time frame: From baseline to 12 months

  3. Change from baseline in brain hippocampal volume

    Change in brain hippocampal volume as measured by MRI. A decrease indicates a worsening.

    Time frame: From baseline to 12 months

07

Study locations

No study locations are listed for this record.

08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Yes

Supporting information: Study protocol

09

Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reached

Start is estimated for Aug 2026; primary completion for Dec 2028, 28 months later.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
Mar 28, 2025
First posted
Apr 4, 2025
StartEst.
Aug 1, 2026
Primary completionEst.
Dec 31, 2028
CompletionEst.
Dec 31, 2028
Last update
May 15, 2026
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on May 15, 2026, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT06911944
Lead sponsor
Michael Rafii, MD, PhD
Collaborators
National Institute on Aging (NIA), Eli Lilly and Company, Alzheimer's Clinical Trials Consortium, Alzheimer's Therapeutic Research Institute
Responsible party
Michael Rafii, MD, PhD (Medical Director of the Alzheimer's Therapeutic Research Institute (ATRI) and Professor of Clinical Neurology at the Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California) — Sponsor-investigator
First posted
Apr 4, 2025
Start date
Aug 1, 2026 (estimated)
Primary completion
Dec 31, 2028 (estimated)
Completion
Dec 31, 2028 (estimated)
Last update
May 15, 2026

Study contacts

ATRI Recruitment and Retention (RER) Unit
Contact
DS-participate@usc.edu
213-821-0569
Michael Rafii, MD, PhD
principal investigator · University of Southern California (USC) Keck School of Medicine, Alzheimer's Therapeutic Research Institute (ATRI)

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in May 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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Discussion

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Studies of the drug tested here: Donanemab

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