The 18th International Symposium on Amyloidosis, “ISA” by Ben Woltering.
From 4th – 8th September 2022 this symposium took place in Heidelberg, Germany.
It is a worldwide congress on amyloidosis for all the medical professionals, researchers and pharmaceuticals, held every 2 years, somewhere over the world.
This year it was at the university of Heidelberg in Germany. There were about 1100 attendees, from over 50 countries and due to a good contact between the ISA and the Alliance, where also a limited number of patients present.
They all followed live (25% on-line) the day-long sessions and discussed the most recent and best ideas to fight all types of amyloidosis.
It was not only hard working, but there where also some pleasant happenings like: welcome reception, conference dinner, Award Ceremony and of course time to do some network activity.
A very interesting program
It was very interesting to find out what all kinds of drugs and medicaments are coming up to stabilize, cure, or even reduce the disease. There where many oral presentations and lectures on that point. All the types of amyloidosis came along.
Many of the attendees where young researchers who are very promising.
They presented often very basic and important research, presented via posters (309 presentations!). Compared to earlier meeting, there was much more interest in the importance of DNA and immune techniques. For instance: aging is also a part of aging of the immune system (T-cells, Macrophages). Another example: Gene targeting therapy (CRISPR-Cas9) may result in >95% regression.
Please find below some further results and important points.
Some topics of the basic research:
Genetics, are risk factors for getting amyloid.
Does N-glycosylation of the light chain play a role in the amyloidogenicity?
Evidence for cardiotoxicity of light chains in AL
Collagen associated with AL inhibits fibril phagocytosis
Some clinical research topics:
Artificial intelligence and machine learning emerge in the diagnostic processes.
Genes as risk factor for development, for prognosis (AL) and as a guide for treatment.
Emerging concept in AL of minimal/ measurable residual disease (MRD)
Neurofilament light chain is a serum biomarker of neuropathy
Increased liver stiffness is a marker of liver amyloid.
Imaging of amyloidosis: in recognition, disease severity and monitoring.
1241-AT01 is a new promising tracer in amyloidosis
New or potential treatment modalities:
• AL: BCL-2 inhibitor venetoclax, belantamab mafodontin (anti-BCMA), BCMA-CART, CAEL-101, elotuzumab (binds SLAMF7), isatuximab (anti-CD38 mAb)
• ATTR: glavonoid (licorice-derived flavonoid oil) a natural tetramer stabilizer, eplontersen (anti-sense), acoramidis (AG10, stabilizer), NNC6019-0001 (antibody that binds all TTR except native TTR)
• All amyloid: Antibodies, e.g. birtamimab (NEOD001), AT-2 and AT-4 (pan amyloid binding fusion peptides), chimeric antigen receptor-macrophages (CAR-M) as a possible potential therapeutic for amyloid clearance
• Supportive care: Droxidopa (norepinephrine prodrug) for orthostatic hypotension, iv inotropic drugs, heart transplant in ATTRwt
A successful symposium on Amyloidosis
Finally, all the attendees agreed that it was a fantastic and successful symposium, very well organized and hosted by professors Schönland & Hegenbart.
We all are looking forward for the next ISA meeting, in Rochester USA, June 2024.
This summery is also based on information from Dr. Bouke Hazenberg.
Ben Woltering