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Key developmental milestones for tau therapeutics
Author(s) -
Cummings Jeffrey L.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
alzheimer's and dementia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.713
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1552-5279
pISSN - 1552-5260
DOI - 10.1002/alz.044896
Subject(s) - disease , neurodegeneration , clinical trial , neuroscience , medicine , biomarker , drug development , neuroimaging , biomarker discovery , alzheimer's disease , cognitive impairment , drug trial , psychology , bioinformatics , drug , pathology , pharmacology , biology , biochemistry , proteomics , gene
Background There have been few breakthroughs and slow progress toward development of disease‐modifying treatments for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases. A biology/biomarker framework is captured in the AD‐disease specific framework focused on amyloid, tau, and neurodegeneration (ATN). Method Recent developments in basic research — involves advances in both fluid‐ and neuroimaging‐derived biomarkers — has strengthened the foundation of clinical AD research. Results While much of the focus in recent years has been on amyloid, contemporary studies analyzing the temporal dynamics of tau have suggested that tau pathology better corresponds to the clinical features of AD and may be a viable therapeutic target. As a component of the ATN framework with a known association with AD cognitive impairment, tau and its regulation are well‐positioned for drug discovery programs. Although no disease‐modifying agents are currently approved, approximately 120 potential disease‐modifying anti‐AD agents are in clinical trials. Of these, about 55% incorporate tau and/or inflammatory activity in their mechanisms of action, including at least 4/28 candidates in Phase 3 trials. Conclusion Improved biomarkers, trial designs, outcomes, and population definitions will assist in advancing tau therapeutics.