2. Academic Validation
  3. Clinical trials of new drugs for Alzheimer disease: a 2020-2023 update

Clinical trials of new drugs for Alzheimer disease: a 2020-2023 update

  • J Biomed Sci. 2023 Oct 2;30(1):83. doi: 10.1186/s12929-023-00976-6.
Li-Kai Huang # 1 2 3,  Yi-Chun Kuan # 2 3 4 5,  Ho-Wei Lin 6,  Chaur-Jong Hu 7 8 9 10
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 PhD Program in Medical Neuroscience, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, No. 291, Zhong Zheng Road, Zhonghe District, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
  • 2 Taipei Neuroscience Institute, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
  • 3 Dementia Center and Department of Neurology, Shuang-Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
  • 4 Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
  • 5 Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
  • 6 School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
  • 7 PhD Program in Medical Neuroscience, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, No. 291, Zhong Zheng Road, Zhonghe District, New Taipei City, Taiwan. chaurjongh@tmu.edu.tw.
  • 8 Taipei Neuroscience Institute, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taiwan. chaurjongh@tmu.edu.tw.
  • 9 Dementia Center and Department of Neurology, Shuang-Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taiwan. chaurjongh@tmu.edu.tw.
  • 10 Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan. chaurjongh@tmu.edu.tw.
  • # Contributed equally.
PMID: 37784171 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-023-00976-6
Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia, presenting a significant unmet medical need worldwide. The pathogenesis of AD involves various pathophysiological events, including the accumulation of amyloid and tau, neuro-inflammation, and neuronal injury. Clinical trials focusing on new drugs for AD were documented in 2020, but subsequent developments have emerged since then. Notably, the US-FDA has approved Aducanumab and Lecanemab, both Antibodies targeting amyloid, marking the end of a nearly two-decade period without new AD drugs. In this comprehensive report, we review all trials listed in clinicaltrials.gov, elucidating their underlying mechanisms and study designs. Ongoing clinical trials are investigating numerous promising new drugs for AD. The main trends in these trials involve pathophysiology-based, disease-modifying therapies and the recruitment of participants in earlier stages of the disease. These trends underscore the significance of conducting fundamental research on pathophysiology, prevention, and intervention prior to the occurrence of brain damage caused by AD.

Keywords

Alzheimer disease; Anti-amyloid; Anti-tau; Clinical trials; Cognitive enhancement; Neuroinflammation; Neuroprotection.

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