Diabetes medicine to be tested as a potential treatment for early-stage Alzheimer’s disease in London

Diabetes medicine to be tested as a potential treatment for early-stage Alzheimer’s disease

Clinical trials across London are underway to investigate if an existing medicine can potentially work as a disease-modifying option for early-stage Alzheimer’s disease.

Novo Nordisk is now working alongside Join Dementia Research to investigate if semaglutide could benefit people living with early Alzheimer’s disease

For this phase 3 clinical trial, researchers are recruiting through Join Dementia Research - a national registry – and clinics, to find people aged 55 - 85 with a diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) or early Alzheimer’s disease.

If eligible, patients in the trial will be given either semaglutide or a dummy medicine (known as a placebo) and asked to take one tablet a day. As this is double-blind randomised controlled trial, neither the patients nor the researchers will know who has the active medicine and who has the placebo.

All patients will receive regular clinic visits, health checks and medical testing. They will have access to expert guidance and facilities during the study.

It is hoped that 3500 participants globally will take part over a three-year period.

Kate Potter from Nottingham, who is enrolled in the study, said: “Both my husband Dave and I believe that taking part in this well-managed study is very worthwhile and has been very straightforward. Whilst direct personal benefit could be beneficial, the results could help many thousands of people suffering this devastating disease. We feel very fortunate to be involved.”

Dr Martin Johnson, Medical Director and Principal Investigator at St Pancras Clinical Research in London, which is delivering the study in the capital alongside Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, said: “With the jury still out on whether reducing beta-amyloid in established memory impairment due to likely Alzheimer’s Disease is of material benefit, the real world evidence data from over 15,000 patients in semaglutide clinical trials, which demonstrated a 53% lower risk of developing dementia in a post-hoc analysis from long-term diabetes and obesity trials, is very exciting. The potential benefit is supported by sound and intriguing preclinical information, so we view the EVOKE and EVOKE+ trial with expectant optimism.”

The study’s Chief Investigator, Professor Naji Tabet of Brighton and Sussex Medical School, said: “This phase 3 trial will give us an accurate picture of the medicine’s efficacy and safety profile in people living with early Alzheimer’s disease.

“We will measure the impact by comparing cognition tests taken at the start and end of the study and by collecting regular information about our patients’ health, cognition, ability to perform daily activities and general wellbeing.”

I would encourage anyone with early Alzheimer’s disease or mild cognitive impairment to consider taking part in this study.”

Semaglutide is an investigatory medicine and is not licensed for the treatment of early Alzheimer’s disease.
Participants will need to:
● Take one tablet every day
● Perform memory tests and questionnaires on how well they manage daily routines
● Provide blood samples at ten of the clinic visits.
● Undergo 1 brain MRI or CT scan to look at brain structure *
● Undergo 1 PET brain scan or a spinal tap to test for amyloid (a protein involved in Alzheimer’s disease) *
● Have a study partner (someone to accompany them to appointments)
* Patients will have the opportunity to discuss the results of these scans with their study doctor before taking any medication.

Anyone who is interested in taking part should sign up to Join Dementia Research and if they are eligible, a member of the study team will contact them.