Investigational drugs in Alzheimer's disease: current progress.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder affecting millions of people worldwide. Yet, this disease is presently incurable and treatable only in terms of modest delay of symptomatic progression. The need for more effective pharmacological intervention is becoming more pronounced as the patient population increases.

AREAS COVERED:

This paper outlines and evaluates the current landscape of interventions in early phases of clinical study. Data and analysis for this review were procured from PubMed, clinicaltrials.gov, review of posters, abstracts and presentations from American Neurological Association, American Academy of Neurology meetings, Alzheimer's Association International Conference and Clinical Trials on Alzheimer's disease. Keywords and criteria searched included: Phase 0, I, and II trials related to Alzheimer's disease, amyloid-β, anti-tau, monoclonal antibodies and metabolism.

EXPERT OPINION:

The development of novel pharmacological interventions would be more fruitful if multitarget therapies were introduced, and unexplored mechanisms of action were expanded upon. Additionally, there is a rationale for intervening earlier in the disease, perhaps preceding or at the advent of symptoms.

• Authors: Camryn Berk, Gaurav Paul, Marwan Sabbagh
• Journal: Expert opinion on investigational drugs (Expert Opin Investig Drugs) Vol. 23 Issue 6 Pg. 837-46 (Jun 2014) ISSN: 1744-7658 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 24702504 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)

Chemical References

• Amyloid beta-Peptides
• Antibodies, Monoclonal
• Drugs, Investigational

Topics

• Alzheimer Disease (drug therapy, metabolism)
• Amyloid beta-Peptides (metabolism)
• Animals
• Antibodies, Monoclonal (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Clinical Trials as Topic
• Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
• Drugs, Investigational (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic