Amyloid-targeting drugs make up one part of the biology of aging approach and are the first step in developing multiple drugs to treat Alzheimer’s disease

Topline results from the TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 2 phase 3 study show the drug slowed cognitive and functional decline by 35% in patients with early symptomatic Alzheimer’s disease and reduced amyloid plaque levels in the brains of treated patients. Over half of participants in the trial completed their course of treatment by 12 months, which indicates a possibility that the drug could be paused or stopped after a year, potentially lowering cost and limiting risk of side effects for patients. Anti-amyloid therapies can serve as the first disease-modifying drugs in the arsenal of treatments to effectively treat Alzheimer’s. The development of the next generation of drugs is already well underway with 75% of trials currently in the pipeline aimed at novel targets beyond the traditional amyloid and tau.

As these trials for novel targets advance, it further underscores the importance of developing complimentary biomarkers. Biomarkers like the Amyvid® PET scan – which received early seed funding from the ADDF – and the Tauvid™ PET scan are already being used to enroll patients in trials for amyloid-targeting drugs, like donanemab, and to demonstrate target engagement. Biomarkers are essential for drugs to be used most effectively for the patients who need them. They will play a key role in allowing the match to the right drugs to the right patients.

Source: Reprint courtesy PRNewswire; Photo courtesy Freepik/rawpixel.com