Alzheimer’s drugs failing

The international medical community is concerned that the high rate of failure for Alzheimer’s disease drug trials could discourage further research in the field.

A study published in the journal Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy found that, between 2002 and 2012, 99.6 percent of trials for drugs aimed at preventing, curing or improving Alzheimer’s failed or were discontinued, according to BBC News. For comparison, the study found that 81 percent of cancer drugs failed over the same period.

Only one new form of Alzheimer’s medicine has been approved since 2004. Dr. Simon Ridley of Alzheimer’s Research UK said pharmaceutical companies may be wary of investing in dementia research, given the low success rate.

“The only way we will successfully defeat dementia is to continue with high-quality, innovative research, improve links with industry and increase investment in clinical trials,” he said.