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Non-Amyloid Approaches to Disease Modification for Alzheimer's Disease: An EU/US CTAD Task Force Report
Serge Gauthier1, P S Aisen2, J Cummings3
1McGill Center for Studies in Aging, Verdun, QC Canada.
Insights
Alzheimer's disease (AD) drug development is expanding beyond amyloid plaques to include tau therapies, immune responses, and lifestyle interventions. The CTAD Task Force recommends collaboration and improved trials for alternative AD treatments.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Current Alzheimer's disease (AD) drug development heavily relies on amyloid-targeting therapies.
- There is a growing consensus that targeting additional mechanisms is crucial for effective AD treatment.
- The EU/US CTAD Task Force convened to discuss alternative disease-modifying strategies for AD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore and propose alternative therapeutic strategies beyond amyloid targeting for Alzheimer's disease.
- To identify key areas for accelerating the development of novel AD treatments.
- To foster collaboration and refine clinical trial designs for AD therapies.
Main Methods:
- Discussion and consensus-building among experts at the EU/US CTAD Task Force meeting in December 2019.
- Review of emerging therapeutic targets including tau, neurotrophin receptors, antimicrobials, and innate immunity.
- Consideration of vascular, aging, and non-pharmacological interventions like lifestyle, photobiomodulation, and neurostimulation.
Main Results:
- Identification of multiple promising alternative therapeutic avenues for AD.
- Recognition of the need for a multi-faceted approach to AD treatment.
- Proposed strategy emphasizing increased partnerships, improved trial designs, and combination therapies.
Conclusions:
- Effective Alzheimer's disease treatment likely requires targeting multiple pathways beyond amyloid.
- Accelerating the development of alternative AD therapies necessitates strategic collaborations and innovative trial designs.
- Combination therapy approaches hold significant promise for future AD treatment strategies.
Abstract:
While amyloid-targeting therapies continue to predominate in the Alzheimer's disease (AD) drug development pipeline, there is increasing recognition that to effectively treat the disease it may be necessary to target other mechanisms and pathways as well. In December 2019, The EU/US CTAD Task Force discussed these alternative approaches to disease modification in AD, focusing on tau-targeting therapies, neurotrophin receptor modulation, anti-microbial strategies, and the innate immune response; as well as vascular approaches, aging, and non-pharmacological approaches such as lifestyle intervention strategies, photobiomodulation and neurostimulation. The Task Force proposed a general strategy to accelerate the development of alternative treatment approaches, which would include increased partnerships and collaborations, improved trial designs, and further exploration of combination therapy strategies.
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