Aducanumab’s Implications for Future Clinical Trials: Pierre N. Tariot, MD

“One thing we tend to overlook is the state of care because even if we have a marvelously effective disease ‘slower downer,’ or if we have a preventive therapy, there will still be millions of people affected. So, we and others need to keep raising the bar and the standard of care because…half or so of Americans with dementia don't have it recognized by a physician before they die—that's a tremendous opportunity to do better, and we have to.”

Discussing the recent controversial approval of aducanumab, Pierre N. Tariot, MD, director of Banner Alzheimer’s Institute, commented on the drug’s potential to “dominate the conversation” for the time being and the implications for research in the Alzheimer disease (AD) space. Specifically, the potential of biomarker outcomes and efficacy decisions being made earlier in drug development could shorten the length of trials in AD from spanning 6 years with 2000 patients, to 6 months with 100 patients, Tariot told NeurologyLive. 

Additional emerging therapies such as antisense oligonucleotides and mRNA silencing techniques were also discussed, which will require new and different drug administration, Tariot said. His commentary coincides with his recent presentation at the 2021 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference, held July 26-30, where he and colleagues presented safety data on the use of pimavanserin in dementia-related psychosis.

For more coverage of AAIC 2021, click here. 

REFERENCES 

1. Tariot P, Cummings JL, Soto-Martin ME, et al. Trial of Pimavanserin in Dementia-Related Psychosis. N Engl J Med. 2021; 385:309-319. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2034634 
2. Demos G, Foff EP, McEvoy B, Skoog B. Pimavanserin and concomitant antidementia medication use in patients with neurodegenerative and/or neurovascular disorders: safety outcomes from pooled clinical data and the HARMONY study. Presented at: AAIC 2021; Denver, Colorado; July 26-30. Poster 57661.