Key facts
- The AD-SMART trial aims to speed up the search for Alzheimer's treatments.
- Metformin and atomoxetine are the first drugs being tested.
- The study uses a multi-arm, multi-stage platform approach.
- Around 1,200 participants will be recruited at over 30 UK sites.
- The trial is expected to evaluate the initial drugs by 2030.
A new clinical trial in the UK, named AD-SMART, has launched with the aim of accelerating the discovery of new treatments for Alzheimer's disease. The study will simultaneously test multiple drugs, starting with metformin, used for type 2 diabetes, and atomoxetine, used for ADHD. Scientists hope these repurposed drugs may help reduce brain inflammation, a key factor in neurodegeneration. Angela Bucksey, 67, is the first patient to begin treatment, expressing a desire to actively fight back against the disease. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has voiced support for the trial, highlighting the need for cutting-edge treatments to reach patients in the UK.
The multi-arm, multi-stage platform trial design allows for new treatments to be added and ineffective ones to be quickly removed, a method previously successful in cancer research. Approximately 1,200 participants with mild to moderate Alzheimer's will be recruited across more than 30 sites in the UK. Researchers anticipate completing the evaluation of the initial drugs by 2030.