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First-in-class SAM-competitive G9a inhibitor FLAV-27 as a disease-modifying therapy for Alzheimer disease
Bellver-Sanchis A, Valle-Garcia D, Barbaraci C, Romero-Becerra F, Singh RK, Jarne-Ferrer J, Vasilopoulou F, Irisarri A et al.. Molecular therapy : the journal of the American Society of Gene Therapy, 2025-12-24
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by a progressive cognitive decline involving a multifactorial pathophysiology, including epigenetic dysregulation. Here, we report the discovery and preclinical validation of FLAV-27, a first-in-class, S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM)-competitive, brain-penetrant, and selective inhibitor of the histone methyltransferase G9a. Unlike prior G9a/GLP inhibitors, FLAV-27 exhibits subnanomolar potency, over 30-fold selectivity, and robust central nervous system bioavailability.
Key findings
- Here, we report the discovery and preclinical validation of FLAV-27, a first-in-class, S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM)-competitive, brain-penetrant, and selective inhibitor of the histone methyltransferase G9a.
- Unlike prior G9a/GLP inhibitors, FLAV-27 exhibits subnanomolar potency, over 30-fold selectivity, and robust central nervous system bioavailability.
- Structural studies confirm a unique SAM-binding mode that confers superior specificity and avoids off-target effects.
- FLAV-27 reduces amyloid beta (Aβ) and p-tau aggregation and restores neuritic complexity in vitro.
Why it matters
This preclinical study reports a new brain-penetrant G9a inhibitor, FLAV-27, that reduced amyloid and tau pathology in animal models of Alzheimer's disease. It is early animal research and has not been shown to treat, cure, or prevent Alzheimer's disease in people.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 40/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Molecular therapy : the journal of the American Society of Gene Therapy) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Molecular Therapy: journal h-index 258 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 5 / 5 | 2026 — within 1 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 3 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 1.5 citations a year over 2 year(s) since 2026 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.6× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 3 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Christian Griñán‐Ferré: h-index 29 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University College London: institution h-index 2,029 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 3 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 22 institution(s) in 6 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41445192) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 40 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2025.12.038
- PubMed: 41445192
- Original source →
- Free full text: Molecular Therapy →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Bellver-Sanchis, A., Valle-Garcia, D., Barbaraci, C., Romero-Becerra, F., Singh, R. K., Jarne-Ferrer, J., et al. (2026). First-in-class SAM-competitive G9a inhibitor FLAV-27 as a disease-modifying therapy for Alzheimer disease. Molecular therapy : the journal of the American Society of Gene Therapy. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ymthe.2025.12.038
Vancouver
Bellver-Sanchis A, Valle-Garcia D, Barbaraci C, Romero-Becerra F, Singh RK, Jarne-Ferrer J, et al. First-in-class SAM-competitive G9a inhibitor FLAV-27 as a disease-modifying therapy for Alzheimer disease. Molecular therapy : the journal of the American Society of Gene Therapy. 2026. doi:10.1016/j.ymthe.2025.12.038. PMID: 41445192.
BibTeX
@article{bellversanchis2026-41445192,
author = {Bellver-Sanchis, A. and Valle-Garcia, D. and Barbaraci, C. and Romero-Becerra, F. and Singh, R. K. and Jarne-Ferrer, J. and Vasilopoulou, F. and Irisarri, A. and others},
title = {{First-in-class SAM-competitive G9a inhibitor FLAV-27 as a disease-modifying therapy for Alzheimer disease}},
journal = {Molecular therapy : the journal of the American Society of Gene Therapy},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.1016/j.ymthe.2025.12.038},
pmid = {41445192},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ymthe.2025.12.038}
}
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