Drugs Selected for DIAN TU Clinical Trial
http://news.wustl.edu/news/Pages/24400.aspx
Scientists at the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer’s Network Trials Unit (DIAN TU) have selected three drugs to be evaluated in the first phase of this innovative international clinical trial. The drugs (gantenerumab, solanezumab and a beta secretase inhibitor) each target beta amyloid in a different way. Beta amyloid is the main ingredient in the brain plaques found in people with Alzheimer’s.
This study, and other Alzheimer’s prevention trials that are starting soon, are very important, both for the Alzheimer’s research community and for people with Alzheimer’s and their families. While this trial is new and exciting and is taking the Alzheimer’s field in new directions for improving treatment and prevention, we still must continue to test other drugs and other treatment strategies and continue to develop treatments for people with late-onset Alzheimer’s dementia and those who are already experiencing symptoms.
http://news.wustl.edu/news/Pages/24400.aspx
Alzheimer’s Association Involvement
The Alzheimer’s Association is unwaveringly committed to finding better therapies and prevention strategies for Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders, as well as providing support and education for people and families facing Alzheimer’s disease today.
The Association provided $4.2 million for DIAN TU. This funding was critical to launching this study for several reasons:
- As the global leader in patient advocacy, the Association felt that our support would create an opportunity to address Alzheimer’s in a shorter time frame with this unique group of individuals who have not traditionally participated in clinical trials because of their age and genetics.
- This is the first adaptive trial design in Alzheimer’s where more than one experimental treatment will be used and participants will be switched to the treatment that demonstrates the strongest effect within the first 6 months.
- With several companies participating in the partnership, it was clear that there needed to be infrastructure and platform funding supporting all three on a non-competitive level to initiate the study.
Additionally, during the candidate treatment selection phase, the Alzheimer’s Association participated as the conflict of interest risk manager for the candidate selection committee of academic trialists to ensure a fair selection of the final recommended compounds.
We must not stop now. The U.S. National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s was unveiled in May, and this plan must be speedily and effectively implemented. An additional $100 million is needed now for Alzheimer’s research, education and community support.
http://www.optimumseniorcare.com/services/alzheimerscare.php