Alzheimer's disease research

In April 2014 there were 315 open clinical trials under way to understand and treat Alzheimer's disease. 42 of these studies were open, human phase three trials, the last step before United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval and marketing. In the decade 2002–2012, 244 compounds were assessed in Phase I, Phase II, or Phase III trials, and only one of these (memantine) received FDA approval (though others were still in the pipeline).

There are different approaches. One approach is to reduce amyloid beta, for example with bapineuzumab, an antibody in phase III studies for patients in mild to moderate stage; semagacestat, a γ-secretase inhibitor, MPC-7869; and acc-001 or CAD106, vaccines against amyloid beta. Other approaches are neuroprotective agents, like AL-108 (phase II completed); or metal-protein interaction attenuation, as is the case of PBT2 (phase II completed). Yet another approach is to use general cognitive enhancers, as may be the case for memantine, a pharmaceutical approved in the United States and European Union to treat moderate-to-severe AD. A recent (March 2015) physical approach utilizes ultrasound for penetrating the blood-brain barrier and activating microglial cells, in experimental animals; researchers reported in Science that the essay eliminates a great proportion of amyloid beta and restores memory function. Finally, there are basic investigations on the origin and mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease.

Several potential treatments for Alzheimer's disease are under investigation, including several compounds being studied in phase 3 clinical trials. The most important clinical research is focused on potentially treating the underlying disease pathology, for which reduction of amyloid beta is a common target of compounds under investigation.

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