Subtyping is what made precision medicine in cancer a reality. And for successful drug discovery in all its stages, finding subtypes in Alzheimer’s disease is all but imperative. Prior to the approval of the modestly effective Lequembi (lecanemab, Biogen Inc./Eisai Co. Ltd.) Kisunla (donanemab, Eli Lilly and Co.), and the since-withdrawn Aduhelm (aducanumab, Biogen Inc./Eisai Co. Ltd.), more than a dozen failed phase III clinical trials were all that amyloid-targeting drugs had to show for themselves for decades of effort.
Neuroinflammation is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), driven in part by chronic microglial activation and elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines, which contribute to neuronal damage and cognitive decline. Targeting microglial activity has emerged as a promising therapeutic approach.
A month away from the PDUFA decision date for a Leqembi (lecanemab) subcutaneous autoinjector to be used for maintenance dosing for those with early Alzheimer’s disease, Eisai Co. Ltd. and Biogen Inc. presented clinical data at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) 2025 in Toronto, showing comparable efficacy and safety to the FDA-approved intravenous formulation.
Investigators at Yonsei University have reported findings from studies conducted to identify small molecules capable of disaggregating amyloid-β42 (Aβ42) aggregates, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease.
At the 2025 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC), one of the bigger splashes was made by a cardiovascular drug. In a presentation on July 30, Newamsterdam Pharma Co. NV presented data showing that its cholesterol drug obicetrapib lowered levels of the Alzheimer’s Disease biomarker p-tau217.
Researchers from Insmed Inc. presented findings on INM-901, a novel synthetic cannabinoid analogue, demonstrating its effects in the 5xFAD mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive decline and sensorimotor impairments, with no available treatments that effectively halt disease progression.
Chitinase-3-like protein 1 (CHI3L1) is a secretory glycoprotein from the glycoside involved in the regulation of immune and inflammatory responses. In the brain, CHI3L1 is primarily produced by activated astrocytes, where it is involved in inflammatory neurotoxicity, emerging as a potential biomarker of neuroinflammatory disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease.
The first filing in the name of Grand Rapids, Mich.-headquartered Corium Innovations Inc. confirms the company formerly known as Corium Pharma Solutions Inc. is developing treatments for multiple sclerosis and ulcerative colitis that employ its proprietary Corplex transdermal patch technology.
After a tough few weeks for Sarepta Therapeutics Inc., the EMA dealt another blow on July 25, announcing it will not be approving the Duchenne muscular dystrophy gene therapy Elevidys (delandistrogene moxeparvovec). Re-examination of the file led to a happier outcome for another drug that has attracted considerable controversy, Eli Lilly and Co. Inc.’s Kisunla (donanemab) for treating the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.
