Why persistence matters - evolving the science of Alzheimer’s disease one step at a time

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has been at the forefront of discussions within the scientific, clinical and patient communities for many years. It is a devastating condition that threatens to erode the very foundations of what makes us who we are, and one of the most significant public health challenges we face today. Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, and affects 50 million people worldwide - a figure which is expected to triple by 2050. It is therefore no surprise that so many are aware of this disease and have been impacted by it either directly or indirectly.

I personally understand the devastation Alzheimer’s causes, watching my grandmother gently, but inexorably, decline as she journeyed down the path of dementia. The impact on my grandfather, her lifelong companion, was equally hard to watch. I am thankful that, in some ways, she had a better experience than most, but was saddened as her capacity to have an independent life diminished and frustrated with the lack of therapeutic options.

Alzheimer’s is a disease which has eluded scientists for so long and a field where any progress at all has been hard won. In our pursuit of a breakthrough therapy for Alzheimer’s that tackles not just the symptoms of disease, but the root cause, setbacks and disappointments have been intrinsic to the process. Nevertheless, we have never lost sight of our vision for people with Alzheimer’s and their families. Our goal has always been, and will always be, to transform Alzheimer’s one step at a time.

"We have never lost sight of our vision for people with Alzheimer’s and their families. Our goal has always been, and will always be, to transform Alzheimer’s one step at a time."

I have learnt along the way that every so-called "failure" or "setback" forms a crucial part of setting up the stage for success. When our first trials with an anti-amyloid antibody in prodromal AD didn’t yield the results we had hoped, the team were extremely disappointed. With the benefit of hindsight, that trial led us to develop the first CSF test for amyloid and tau pathology and to the development of tau PET ligands. We couldn’t have done that without the initial “failure”. Other “failures” also drove us to work more closely with people living with AD, as well as academics and regulators, to create new clinical research tools, such as the acceptance of the CDR-SOB as a primary endpoint and how to operationalise trials in prodromal patients, or to start our collaboration with DIAN-TU for studies in familial Alzheimer’s. All of the work we had put in made it possible to take the next steps boldly and with a greater chance of success.

"I have learnt along the way that every so-called 'failure' or 'setback' forms a crucial part of setting up the stage for success."

Scientific advancement is rarely linear – it is iterative, cumulative, and hard won – and as each piece of new understanding is realised, the puzzle of how the disease progresses becomes clearer. In turn, we can begin to effectively target the biology of disease to slow, and maybe one day halt, progression. With several treatment options on the horizon for people with Alzheimer’s, we have reached a pivotal moment for the community and the world; one which provides fresh hope that all the work that has come before is finally guiding us towards a new era in Alzheimer’s treatment.

"All of the work we had put in made it possible to take the next steps boldly and with a greater chance of success."

At Roche, we will continue to play our part in evolving the science of AD in the hope that we can address one of the greatest challenges in neuroscience today. Currently, we have three treatments in clinical development across our portfolio, but we also recognise the importance of a broad approach and looking beyond the medicine. We are uniquely positioned with access to both pharma and diagnostic capabilities, and our team of dedicated scientists are investigating innovative tools to improve access to timelier, more accurate, and more affordable ways to detect, diagnose and monitor AD. We have over 70 collaborations with academics, government groups, advocacy groups and other non-profits, seeking to address the biggest challenges in Alzheimer’s, and are proud to be part of the recently announced Davos Alzheimer's Collaborative , a multi-stakeholder collaboration to accelerate progress in Alzheimer’s research, prevention and care.?

For decades, Roche has been conducting neuroscience research and clinical trials with the aim of exploring areas of the highest medical need, where no, or limited, treatment options exist. Our ongoing work in Alzheimer’s is testament to this, and I am more optimistic than ever that we can achieve what we always set out to do – to transform Alzheimer’s for people with the disease and their loved ones, for my grandparents and yours.?