UK launches Alzheimer’s trial of diabetes and ADHD drugs

The UK has launched ADSMART, a clinical trial testing metformin and atomoxetine as potential treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, using a design intended to evaluate several medicines more efficiently than conventional trials. Metformin is used to treat type 2 diabetes, while atomoxetine is prescribed for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The trial will assess whether the medicines affect memory and thinking problems and help participants maintain their quality of life. Researchers have not yet established that either drug benefits people with Alzheimer’s. ADSMART is a multiarm, multistage platform trial. Its treatment groups are compared with a placebo group, and researchers review results at regular stages. Treatments that show no evidence of benefit can be stopped, while other medicines may be added. The trial is led by the UK Dementia Research Institute and Alzheimer’s Research UK, with support from funders including the UK government. Chief investigator Paresh Malhotra, a neurologist at Imperial College London, said the medicines may affect processes involved in Alzheimer’s-related degeneration. The study’s assessments will include cognitive tests, with regular...