Commentary
Video
Enhancing Diversity and Accessibility in Clinical Trials for Alzheimer Disease: Jessica Langbaum, PhD
Author(s):
The senior director of research strategy at Banner Alzheimer’s Institute talked about improving clinical trial diversity through removal of logistical barriers, creating inclusive outreach strategies, and designing trials that address the unique needs of underrepresented populations. [WATCH TIME: 5 minutes]
WATCH TIME: 5 minutes
“As a clinical trial ecosystem, we have to improve how we provide our trials to people.”
The ongoing phase 3 TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 3 trial (NCT05026866) will assess the efficacy of donanemab (Kisunla; Eli Lilly) in preclinical Alzheimer disease (AD) using a decentralized clinical trial (DCT) model. This decentralized approach includes mobile research units, community screenings at health fairs and events, and pre-screening via centralized call centers. To facilitate participation, electronic tablets were provided to participants and their study partners for remote, centralized administration of cognitive and functional assessments.
Following the analysis of screening and baseline characteristics at enrollment completion, researchers concluded that using a blood-based biomarker and a DCT model was feasible for recruitment in a preclinical AD study. Coauthor Jessica Langbaum, PhD, and colleagues presented these findings at the 2024 Clinical Trials on Alzheimer’s Disease (CTAD) conference, held October 29 to November 1, in Madrid, Spain. Authors noted that the cohort in TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 3 represents an earlier clinical and pathological stage than participants in prior studies focused on early symptomatic AD.
At CTAD 2024, Langbaum, the senior director of research strategy at Banner Alzheimer’s Institute, sat down with NeurologyLive® to discuss some of the key logistical barriers that underrepresented populations face in accessing clinical trials for AD. She also spoke about how decentralized trials, like the TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 3, contribute to making clinical trials more accessible. Langbaum, who also serves as the director of the Alzheimer’s Prevention Initiative, spoke about the role of evidence-based recruitment messaging and inclusive outreach materials play in improving clinical trial diversity in AD.
Click here for more coverage of CTAD 2024.
