Voyager Therapeutics has received FDA clearance to begin human trials of VY1706, the first gene therapy designed to reduce tau protein in the brain. Unlike most Alzheimer's treatments that target amyloid plaques or neutralize tau after it forms, VY1706 works upstream by interfering with the genetic instructions that produce tau in the first place. Tau buildup is strongly linked to memory loss and cognitive decline, and may be a more direct driver of neuronal damage than amyloid. The therapy is delivered as a single intravenous dose and is designed to reach tau both inside and outside neurons. Dosing in adults with early Alzheimer's disease is expected to begin in late 2026.
