Repurposing nirogacestat, a gamma secretase enzyme inhibitor in desmoid tumors

The gamma secretase (GS) enzyme controls cell–cell adhesion, neural stem cell proliferation, neo-angiogenesis, spinal maturation, and metabolism of amyloid precursor proteins (APP). Pathological production of abnormal amyloid-beta isoforms and senile plaques serves as the basis for pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). GS enzyme inhibitors such as semagacestat and avagacestat were explored in AD but the studies were paused because of adverse events attributed to their influence on the Notch pathway.