The UK government has launched the Dementia Trials Accelerator (DTA), a £20 million initiative aimed at significantly increasing the number of participants in dementia clinical trials. Spearheaded by the UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI) and Health Data Research UK (HDR UK), the DTA seeks to address the "historically low" enrollment rates in dementia studies, with the goal of recruiting tens of thousands of individuals. This effort comes at a crucial time, as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recently rejected two new Alzheimer's therapies for NHS use, underscoring the importance of clinical trials as a potential avenue for patients to access innovative treatments.
Addressing a Critical Need
With nearly a million people in the UK living with dementia and the total cost to society estimated at £42 billion this year, the need for effective treatments is urgent. However, in 2021-22, only 61 individuals participated in dementia clinical trials in the UK, highlighting a significant gap in research efforts. The DTA aims to bridge this gap by streamlining processes for setting up and participating in studies, making it easier for both researchers and patients to get involved.
Positioning the UK as a Leader in Dementia Research
Professor Siddharthan Chandran, Director of the UK DRI, emphasized the DTA's objective to "position the UK as the destination of choice for pharma and industry to invest in and run late-phase clinical trials." He noted that the UK possesses the necessary assets to become a trials powerhouse in dementia, including world-class science, cohorts, data infrastructure, and a unitary healthcare system.
Overcoming Barriers to Access
The DTA will employ digitally enabled methodologies to deliver clinical trials at scale in community settings across the UK, aiming to improve access and recruitment rates. This approach is particularly important in light of recent NICE decisions not to recommend donanemab and lecanemab for NHS use due to concerns about cost-effectiveness. These rejections leave clinical trials as a primary option for patients seeking access to these and other promising new therapies.
Patient Perspective
Jennifer Brown, a 74-year-old participant in the NorAD clinical trial for Alzheimer's disease, emphasized the importance of trial participation, stating, "Hopefully, our contribution and that of others in such trials will speed up an understanding, and eventual eradication, of this terrible disease."
Government Support
The DTA is funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC) and supported by the government's Dame Barbara Windsor Dementia Goals programme, demonstrating a commitment to advancing dementia research and improving patient outcomes.
