Key Summary
- 40 per cent rise in Alzheimer's-related clinical trials, giving hope for patients.
- New drugs target inflammation, immunity, memory and anxiety too.
- Many people with dementia are still undiagnosed, limiting participation in clinical trials.
Popular dementia researcher Dr Jeffrey Cummings has said that there has been a 40 percent increase in Alzheimer’s trials when compared with the past decade.
According to Alzheimer’s Research UK, this year’s review also shows the most diverse Alzheimer’s drug pipeline to date, with researchers moving beyond its long-standing focus on amyloid - a protein central to Alzheimer’s disease.
Although 20 per cent of Alzheimer’s drug pipeline consists of amyloid-targeting medications, the remaining medicines focus on tau, inflammation reduction and rebalancing immune systems.
Along with the broadened focus, clinical trials have also expanded from examining people with no symptoms but high risk of dementia to people at advanced stage, as an attempt to ensure longer healthier lives for Alzheimer’s patients.
Around 18 per cent of these drugs aim to improve memory and 10 per cent of them are for neuropsychiatric issues such as anxiety.
Researchers are also attempting to repurpose medicines, by which 35 per cent of the medicines in this pipeline are repurposed.
Atomoxetine used for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is now being trialled for Phase 2 trial in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or early onset of Alzheimer’s.
Similarly, combination of treatments are also trialled in this process, such as a Phase 2 test of vaccine focusing on tau is tested alongside an anti-amyloid drug, to address different biological pathways.
Eight Phase 3 Alzheimer’s trials are also expected to finish in 2026, including the TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 3 study testing Donanemab in people showing early brain changes linked to Alzheimer’s before symptoms appear.
Although the trials are promising, Alzheimer’s treatment innovation face different types of challenges.
Even though UK leads 10 per cent of the Alzheimer’s drug trials, the participation is low with only 1,000 of 600,000 patients enrolled in Phase 3 studies.
In the UK, one in three people are living with dementia without being formally diagnosed, and this is affecting the trial turnout.
