51,398 people are participating in Alzheimer’s Disease clinical trials worldwide. This statistic and others from a recent report published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia highlight the scope of the current AD drug development landscape. Based on an analysis of clinicatrials.gov led by Jeffrey Cummings, the publication shares trial numbers, therapeutic targets, biomarkers, innovations, recruitment timelines and an array of information detailing the vital research ongoing in this therapeutic area.
The following are highlights from the publication. The report can be read in its entirety here.
Alzheimer’s Disease 2024 Pipeline Overview
The 2024 Alzheimer’s disease drug development pipeline remains robust, with 164 clinical trials assessing 127 drugs. This includes:
- 48 trials in Phase 3
- 90 trials in Phase 2
- 26 trials in Phase 1
Diverse Therapeutic Targets
There remains a diversity of therapeutic targets in the current pipeline, addressing various biological processes associated with Alzheimer’s disease, including:
- Neurotransmitter receptors
- Inflammation
- Amyloid
- Synaptic plasticity
Focus on Disease-Modifying Therapies
A significant portion of the Alzheimer’s pipeline is dedicated to disease-modifying therapies (DMTs):
- 55% small molecule DMTs
- 45% biologic DMTs
Recruitment and Study Duration
The length of time for study recruitment:
- 2.1 years to recruit for Phase 1
- 2.5 years to recruit for Phase 2
- 3.2 years to recruit for Phase 3
Duration of an Alzheimer’s disease study program on average is 13 years (which remains the same as a 2014 analysis).
Biomarker Use
The increased use of biomarkers in clinical trials is seen as a positive trend. Biomarkers are crucial for refining target identification, monitoring therapeutic responses, and enhancing trial methodologies. This improvement leads to more reliable and impactful results, advancing understanding and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.
Innovative Approaches in Clinical Trials
The pipeline also includes a variety of innovative approaches aimed at improving cognitive and behavioral symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. These range from cognitive enhancers to treatments for neuropsychiatric symptoms, reflecting a comprehensive effort to address the multifaceted nature of the disease.
Recent Successes
Recent years have seen breakthroughs in Alzheimer’s therapeutics. Notably, anti-amyloid monoclonal antibodies like aducanumab, lecanemab, and donanemab have been approved, demonstrating ability to slow cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s patients. Additionally brexpiprazole has been approved for treating agitation in dementia associated with Alzheimer’s.
Conclusion
The 2024 Alzheimer’s disease drug development pipeline showcases a dynamic field of research including recent therapeutic successes and improved biomarker use, to a strong focus on disease-modifying therapies. Altogether, the advancements in Alzheimer’s research are promising.
At Cogstate, we are honored to participate in supporting clinical research bringing us closer to a future where Alzheimer’s disease is effectively managed and treated.
Source: Cummings J, Zhou Y, Lee G, Zhong K, Fonseca J, Cheng F. Alzheimer’s disease drug development pipeline: 2024. Alzheimer’s Dement. 2024; 10:e12465. https://doi.org/10.1002/trc2.12465
