Investigational drugs in Alzheimer's disease: current progress.
BACKGROUND
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.


METHODS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Banner Sun Health Research Institute, The Cleo Roberts Center for Clinical Research , 10515 West Santa Fe Drive, Sun City, AZ 85351 , USA +1 623 832 6500 ; +1 623 832 6504 ; marwan.sabbagh@bannerhealth.com.
Camryn
C
Berk
Gaurav
G
Paul
Marwan
M
Sabbagh
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D015507:Drugs, Investigational / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015507:Drugs, Investigational
Alzheimer's disease; amyloid; clinical trials; drugs