ARUK 2021 | The potential druggability of OAS1 leading to new AD and COVID-19 treatments

Dervis Salih, PhD, University College London, London, UK, outlines how increased knowledge of oligoadenylate synthetase 1 (OAS1) signaling can lead to the development of new treatments of both Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and COVID-19. The gene encoding OAS1, involved downstream in interferon signaling, is found to increase risk of developing AD and more severe cases of COVID-19. Consequently, identifying druggable targets within the pathway will be beneficial in terms of treatment options for both diseases. Additionally, disease risk in patients can be predicted, where knowing what genes are involved can lead to earlier intervention in people who are at higher risk to AD, or more severe COVID-19. This interview took place during the Alzheimer’s Research UK (ARUK) Conference 2021.