The AD-SMART (Alzheimer’s Disease Systematic Multi-arm Adaptive Randomised Trial) study is the first UK Alzheimer’s trial to use an adaptive multi-arm platform design, allowing researchers to test several treatments at the same time and identify the most promising options more quickly.

Led by the UK Dementia Research Institute and Alzheimer’s Research UK, the trial brings together expertise from across the UK, including researchers at the University of Oxford and DPUK.

By comparing multiple treatments against a shared placebo group, AD-SMART can identify ineffective therapies more quickly while introducing new candidate drugs as the trial progresses. Researchers believe this approach could more than halve the time needed to evaluate potential Alzheimer’s treatments compared with traditional clinical trials.

DPUK is helping to deliver the trial by using its existing network of sites and Blood Biomarker Challenge READ-OUT study data to help aid recruitment of trial participants.

Professor Vanessa Raymont, Director of DPUK, co-lead of the trial and Oxford Health Director of Research and Development, said:

Professor Vanessa Raymont

“AD-SMART represents the kind of collaborative, innovative research that is needed to accelerate progress in dementia. By bringing together leading researchers, NHS organisations and research infrastructure from across the UK, including DPUK, this study creates a more efficient way to identify promising treatments and deliver answers faster for people living with Alzheimer’s disease and their families.”

The study will initially test two repurposed medicines already licensed for type 2 diabetes and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Because both drugs are already known to be safe, any benefits could potentially reach patients faster than newly developed medicines. Researchers aim to recruit 1,200 participants across the UK, including through Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, with more than 30 sites planned overall.

The Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, said:

“I know how it feels to lose a loved one to dementia and have seen first hand the devastating impact this illness has on families.

“That’s why I’m proud to see this trial being launched in the UK, so that cutting edge treatments can reach patients here as soon as possible.

“I have made dementia research a national priority. I want Britain to be the leading nation, making the breakthroughs that change people’s lives.”

Professor Paresh Malhotra, Chief Investigator and Group Leader at the UK Dementia Research Institute Centre for Care Research & Technology at Imperial College London, said:

“For too long, Alzheimer’s research has moved at the pace of one drug, one trial, one answer, sometimes taking a decade or more before we know if we’ve found something that works. We are applying advances from cancer and other conditions to accelerate testing of treatments for people with Alzheimer’s disease. The way AD-SMART is set up means we’re testing several treatments at the same time, and those that don’t show promise can be quickly stopped. Then we can start testing something else. That’s the best way to get effective treatments to patients as quickly as we can.”

Professor Lucy Chappell, Chief Scientific Adviser to the Department of Health and Social Care and Chief Executive of the NIHR, said:

“For 20 years, the NIHR has empowered experts to tackle some of the biggest challenges in health and care, ensuring research reaches the people who need it most.

“I am delighted to welcome the launch of AD-SMART, a ground-breaking trial that will accelerate the testing of potential treatments for people affected by Alzheimer’s. It is a prime example of the ambitious, innovative research we need, which is why the NIHR has committed to its ongoing support as it opens more sites across the UK.

“AD-SMART will also play an important role in our ambition to increase participation in dementia clinical trials across the UK, strengthening our ability to test new treatments. Together, our investments aim to bring the benefits of research to people with dementia and their families sooner. “

People with a confirmed Alzheimer’s diagnosis who are interested in taking part can register online through Join Dementia Research: Join dementia research