Alzheimer's disease drug development pipeline: 2026
Jeffrey L Cummings1,2, Yadi Zhou3, Yuxin Yang3
1Chambers-Grundy Center for Transformative Neuroscience, Department of Brain Health, Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Las Vegas Nevada USA.
Introduction:
Discovery and development of new therapies for Alzheimer's disease (AD) are urgently needed to address the world's growing population of individuals on the AD pathophysiological continuum. Clinicaltrials.gov is a resource for studying drugs in development for treatment of AD.
Results:
There are currently 158 drugs in 192 AD trials. Of the agents in trials, 39% are small molecule disease targeting therapies (DTTs); 34% are biologic DTTs; 18% are cognition enhancing symptom targeted therapies (STTs); and 10% are STTs being developed to treat neuropsychiatric symptoms of AD. Currently active trials require 54,728 participants of which 38,417 are in Phase 3. The biopharmaceutical industry sponsors 59% of AD trials including 72% of Phase 3 trials. Repurposed drugs represent 35% of the drugs in trials.
Discussion:
The AD drug development pipeline has a growing number of trials and drugs in trials. A diverse array of AD pathophysiological processes is being addressed by drugs in trials.
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