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. 2016 Aug 17;2(4):222-232.
doi: 10.1016/j.trci.2016.07.001. eCollection 2016 Nov.

Alzheimer's drug-development pipeline: 2016

Jeffrey Cummings  1 , Travis Morstorf  2 , Garam Lee  1
Affiliations

Alzheimer's drug-development pipeline: 2016

Jeffrey Cummings et al. Alzheimers Dement (N Y). .

Abstract

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is growing in frequency and new therapies are urgently needed.

Methods: We assessed clinicaltrials.gov (accessed 1-4-2016) to determine the number and characteristics of trials in phase I, phase II, and phase III for treatment of AD.

Results: There are currently 24 agents in 36 trials in phase III of AD drug development. Seven of these 24 agents are symptomatic cognitive-enhancing compounds, and 17 are disease-modifying treatments (DMTs). Most DMTs address amyloid-related targets (76%). There are 45 agents in phase II being assessed in 52 clinical trials. Phase II trials include 30 DMTs, with 26 small molecules and 4 immunotherapies. There are 24 agents in the first phase of AD drug development.

Discussion: Amyloid is the principal target of late-stage development programs. There are relatively few agents in clinical trials for AD suggesting a need to amplify the drug discovery ecosystem.

Keywords: Alzheimer's disease; Amyloid; Biomarkers; Cognitive enhancement; Drug development; Phase I; Phase II; Phase III; Tau.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Agents currently in clinical trials for AD (shape indicates stage of disease of patients in the trials; color shows the mechanism of action; location shows phase of development and category of activity—immunotherapy, disease-modifying small molecule, symptom-reducing small molecule).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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