The phase 3 trial results for lecanemab and gantenerumab
presented at the Clinical Trials on Alzheimer’s Disease (CTAD)
conference demonstrate why optimal treatment of Alzheimer’s will require drugs
that do more than clear amyloid plaques. While lecanemab had an effect on
slowing cognitive decline and removing amyloid plaques in the brain, gantenerumab
had neither effect.
This was a historic Clinical Trial on Alzheimer’s
Disease conference, reflecting tremendous progress in Alzheimer’s research
and drug development. There have been a lot of encouraging news, including the
lecanemab results and clinical trial data from other classes of drugs that
demonstrate the diversity of the pipeline. The mixed data shows that while
anti-amyloids are a promising starting point, however, there will be need for a combination of drugs aimed
at different targets.
The rapidly advancing
drug pipeline is matched by ongoing breakthroughs in accessible and affordable
diagnostic tools that can tell which underlying causes are at play in each
person’s Alzheimer’s condition. Researchers are also making advances in the use
of digital tools, including wearable devices and at home digital tests, to
provide earlier-than-ever diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, perhaps even before
symptoms are evident.
Reference:
ADDF statement on gantenerumab data presented at
CTAD; ALZHEIMER’S DRUG DISCOVERY FOUNDATION