Burnham backs trial to accelerate Alzheimer's drug discovery

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 22 Oct, 00:28 · Archive

A new clinical trial in the UK will test multiple existing drugs to see if they can slow Alzheimer's disease.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has backed the launch of Ad-Smart, a new clinical trial designed to accelerate the discovery of Alzheimer's treatments. The trial, spearheaded by the UK Dementia Research Institute and Alzheimer's Research UK with government backing, will test multiple drugs concurrently rather than one at a time, potentially more than halving the time needed to evaluate new therapies.

The trial will initially assess atomoxetine, an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder drug, alongside metformin, which treats type 2 diabetes. Additional therapies, including repurposed medicines and novel Alzheimer's treatments, will be added over time. Scientists noted that existing evidence shows atomoxetine affects mechanisms linked to degeneration in Alzheimer's, while metformin shows potential across specific pathways.

Burnham said: 'I know how it feels to lose a loved one to dementia and have seen first-hand the devastating impact this illness has on families. That's why I'm proud to see this trial being launched in the UK, so that cutting-edge treatments can reach patients here as soon as possible.' Burnham's father Roy, a former telephone engineer, died with the disease in September whilst living in a care home. His illness meant he was unaware his son had become Prime Minister.

The Mirror notes that similar mass trials of existing drugs were used by British scientists during the pandemic to discover the first drugs that worked against Covid-19, and if Ad-Smart finds effective treatments, they can be fast-tracked for use on the NHS.

How it is being reported

• Andy Burnham welcomes world-first dementia drug trial after dad Roy dies from the diseaseAndy Burnham heralds Britain’s pioneering AD-SMART Alzheimer’s trial which could fast track first drugs shown to tackle dementia onto the NHSThe Mirror · 22 Oct, 00:02
• Burnham backs pioneering clinical trial that could speed up Alzheimer’s treatmentsExperts in the new trial are looking to see whether treatments help with issues such as poor memory and thinking problemsThe Independent · 22 Oct, 00:01

In this story: Andy Burnham · Roy Burnham · UK Dementia Research Institute · Alzheimer's Research UK · United Kingdom

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