UKDTN launched its first Phase 1b Alzheimer’s trial, dosing the first patient in Europe and streamlining setup across sites, with further trials and collaborations in progress.
The first trial initiated across the UKDTN pilot sites was a Phase 1b study in mild Alzheimer’s disease of an anti-tau antisense oligonucleotide, sponsored by Eli Lilly. The network successfully dosed the first patient in Europe, with a coordinated approach across the three sites reducing set-up time through streamlined feasibility, costings, and contracting processes. The sponsor highlighted UKDTN’s effective communication, regional collaboration, and responsiveness.
Building on this initial success, UKDTN has seen a rapid expansion of early-phase dementia trials over time. There are now three Phase 1b gene-silencing trials actively in set-up or delivery across the network, reflecting growing confidence in UKDTN’s ability to support complex, first-in-human–adjacent studies. Additional trials are in advanced discussion, spanning the translational pathway from first-in-human studies through to later-phase clinical development.
“Right trial, right site, right patient, right time”
Emphasising the strong interest in the network, UKDTN is currently engaged in discussions with nine biotechnology companies and four pharmaceutical companies, signalling a robust and expanding pipeline of innovative therapeutics. Alongside industry engagement, a prospective collaboration with Washington University in St Louis is under discussion to build novel methodological capabilities across sites, enabling real-time analysis of gene-silencing effects on CNS proteins and further strengthening the UK’s capacity for cutting-edge early-phase dementia research.
By UKDTNAdmin