Skip to main content
Search
Main content
Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association
Published

Repurposed drug prioritization pipeline for a multi-arm platform trial in clinical Alzheimer's disease

Authors

Sabahat Iqbal, Cristina Bonet Olivares, Laura Rizzo, Thomas D Parker, Charis Wong, Benjamin R Underwood, James Carpenter, Ross Dunne, Vanessa Raymont, Alastair Reith, Catherine J Mummery, Eric H Karran, Fiona Ducotterd, Gordon Wilcock, Jeffrey L Cummings, John T O'Brien, Leah Mursaleen, Lon S Schneider, Rik Vandenberghe, Malcolm Macleod, Zunera Khan, Paresh Malhotra, Suzanne Reeves

Abstract

Alzheimers Dement. 2026 May;22(5):e71495. doi: 10.1002/alz.71495.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: There is an urgent need to identify effective, safe, and affordable treatments for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Funded by the UK National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), we developed a systematic drug prioritization pipeline to identify repurposed drug candidates for inclusion in a planned platform trial for clinical AD.

METHODS: The wider AD community was invited to propose compounds using a standardized proposal template. Fourteen proposals were presented to an international expert panel, who independently ranked compounds based on biological plausibility, preclinical efficacy, safety, and trial feasibility. Extended drug summaries were compiled for shortlisted compounds, supported by ReLiSyR, a machine learning-supported systematic review tool.

RESULTS: Following review in a second panel meeting, independent re-ranking identified the following compounds: atomoxetine (1st), metformin (2nd), isosorbide mononitrate and levetiracetam (joint 3rd).

DISCUSSION: This robust drug prioritization pipeline will speed the identification and progression of promising candidates for therapeutic evaluation.

PMID:42186115 | DOI:10.1002/alz.71495

UK DRI Authors

Fiona Ducotterd, smiling female with dark brown hair

Prof Fiona Ducotterd

UK DRI Affiliate Member - UCL

Chief Scientific Officer of the Alzheimer's Research UK UCL Drug Discovery Institute

Prof Fiona Ducotterd
Malcolm MacLeod

Prof Malcolm MacLeod

UK DRI Affiliate Member

Professor of Neurology and Translational Neuroscience

Prof Malcolm MacLeod

Prof Paresh Malhotra

Group Leader

Clinically active academic neurologist specialising in cognitive disorders and dementia

Prof Paresh Malhotra