Alzheimer’s disease remains one of the most pressing unmet medical needs in neurology, affecting millions worldwide and placing a significant burden on healthcare systems. As the overall population ages, the demand for effective treatments continues to rise. In this article, we explore the current landscape of Alzheimer’s research, the difficulties in developing effective treatments and the latest trends shaping the future of this field.
The Current State of Alzheimer’s Research
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for up to 70% of cases worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. Despite decades of research, effective treatments remain limited, with most approved therapies focusing on symptom management rather than addressing the underlying disease pathology.
However, recent developments have provided renewed hope. The approval of lecanemab and donanemab involving Biogen and Eli Lilly respectively have shown signs of optimism for reaching an effective treatment.
Challenges in Alzheimer’s Drug Development
Developing treatments for Alzheimer’s has proven exceptionally difficult, with many high-profile clinical trials failing over the years. The complexity of the disease, the slow progression of symptoms and the difficulty in identifying early-stage patients contribute to the high failure rate.
Some of the most notable setbacks in recent years include:
- Roche/Genentech’s Phase III failure of gantenerumab in 2022.
- Sage Therapeutics asset, dalzanemdor, had a trio of trial failures in 2024. The asset failed Phase 2 trials for not only Alzheimer’s, but also Parkinson’s and Huntington’s.
Despite these challenges, Alzheimer’s research continues to receive strong interest, with biotech and pharmaceutical companies leveraging new approaches such as AI-driven drug discovery and biomarker-based patient selection to improve trial outcomes.
Major Alzheimer’s Deals and Acquisitions
Pharmaceutical companies have shown increasing interest in acquiring promising Alzheimer’s assets. A notable example is AbbVie’s acquisition of Aliada Therapeutics in October 2024, which expanded its neurodegenerative pipeline. This follows their 2022 acquisition of Sydnesi Therapeutics, obtaining the now-renamed ABBV-552, currently in Phase 2 trials.
There is also continued activity on the deals front. Towards the end of 2024, GSK penned a deal with Danish biotech Muna Therapeutics for over USD 35m in cash, with the potential of USD 147m in milestone payments. The month also saw Bristol Myers Squibb pay BioArctic USD 100m upfront for the global rights of two of its clinical antibodies, utilizing a similar approach to Aliada whereby the antibodies target pyroglutamate-amyloid-beta.
The Future of Alzheimer’s Research
Looking ahead, several key trends are shaping the future of Alzheimer’s drug development:
- Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI-driven models are being increasingly used to analyze vast datasets and identify potential drug targets more efficiently.
- Early Detection & Biomarkers: Advances in blood-based biomarkers and imaging technologies are improving early diagnosis, allowing for better patient selection in clinical trials.
- Combination Therapies: Researchers are exploring multi-target approaches that combine amyloid, tau and neuroinflammation therapies for a more comprehensive treatment strategy.
Despite the challenges in developing effective treatments, the Alzheimer’s space remains one of the most active areas in biotech. Investment levels remain high, and big pharma continue to pursue licensing deals and acquisitions to bolster their pipelines.