Drug discovery and development for ageing: opportunities and challenges

Area of Science:

• Geriatrics and Gerontology
• Pharmacology
• Clinical Trial Design

Background:

• Geriatricians aim to prevent and treat late-life dysfunction in elderly individuals.
• Developing new medicines for older adults presents unique challenges not seen in other populations.
• Factors like multiple chronic diseases, low physiological reserve, and polypharmacy complicate treatment and drug development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the need for new medicines targeting age-associated functional decline in the elderly.
• To identify challenges and opportunities in developing and testing medications for older adults.
• To discuss potential therapeutic targets for age-related conditions.

Main Methods:

• Review of current challenges in geriatric medicine and drug development.
• Identification of potential indications for new geriatric medicines.
• Discussion of the complexities in designing clinical trials for frail older populations.

Main Results:

• The etiology of functional limitations in the elderly is complex and often multifactorial.
• Potential indications include sarcopenia, anorexia of aging, frailty, mobility disability, and reduced functional capacity.
• Lack of consensus on target diseases and guidelines hinders development.

Conclusions:

• Despite challenges, there is a significant opportunity to develop medicines for the elderly.
• New treatments are urgently needed to reduce the burden of physical decline in older persons.
• Focus on safety and efficacy is paramount for clinical trials in frail older adults.