Alarm over lack of clinical trials into tackling the causes of Alzheimer’s

THE woeful state of Alzheimer’s research is laid bare today by figures that show only 29 advanced clinical trials for disease-modifying therapies are being pursued anywhere in the world.

For cancer, in comparison, there are more than 1,000 trials at a similar stage – a 40-fold difference.

The data, compiled by Exeter University researchers, comes after scientists warned last week that dementia research is four decades behind that in cancer. Speaking at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Chicago yesterday, experts said there are currently 142 active clinical trials in Alzheimer’s disease worldwide.

Of these, only 42 are on disease-modifying therapies – those tackling the underlying cause of Alzheimer’s rather than the symptoms. And only 29 of those were in phase two or three – the final stages of the trial process. Clive Ballard, professor of age-related diseases at the University of Exeter Medical School, said: ‘Addressing this shortfall is an urgent priority.’

But others stressed there is hope on the horizon, pointing to positive results from a trial into a drug called BAN2401.

Data presented at the conference last night was expected to show 18 months of treatment with the drug significantly slowed cognitive decline and reduced toxic ‘plaques’ in the brain.