Day one of the Amsterdam event saw our Chief Executive and co-founder, Professor Claude Wischik present our latest biomarker data from the phase 3 LUCIDITY trial. The buzz from that continued throughout the event, as we shared ideas and answered questions with delegates.
As the sun came up on the Monday, our expert panel presented our breakfast sponsored symposium, “Wake Up…It’s time for a new AD healthcare system!”
With themes including how to increase awareness and understanding of new therapies to supporting adherence to new medications, Dr Stefanacci, TauRx CMO, took charge of the US side of the picture.
Professor Clive Ballard shared details of how, in the UK, we’re currently only reaching the tip of the iceberg of patients who could benefit from diagnosis. He shared findings from the PROTECT study and how these could evolve into supporting a personalised, non-invasive diagnosis platform.
Dr Emer MacSweeney of Re:Cognition Health gave her insights on how patients seek out involvement in clinical trials in Alzheimer’s disease, keen to access potential new therapies and enhanced support provided by this route to care. Yet often, patients approach her clinics without a formal diagnosis, reflecting the barriers that exist to this step.
Professor Bjoern Schelter then concluded the presentations with how GT Diagnostics is advancing its tools to support streamlining the patient pathway, having announced the launch of their wellbeing app, HiPAL.
Within discussion, ably moderated by Professor Serge Gauthier, panellists aligned on a need for a more thorough and consistent primary care-led triage system to support swifter diagnosis, and a community care-led treatment and monitoring model for affordability and scalability. There are challenges ahead, but technology will support these necessary changes so the benefits of new treatments may be realised.
Our week at AAIC included attendance at the UK’s Dame Barbara Windsor Dementia Mission kick-off event. With one important mission, its three pillars of activity are designed to contribute to “cutting edge science having human impact”. We left this feeling motivated and proud to be contributing UK science to the picture.
With dementia a leading cause of death in the UK, it is right that government is supporting industry and researchers to make progress in how biomarkers may transform diagnosis and monitoring of treatments, fuel more and better clinical trials, and support healthcare delivery by leveraging data.
Overall, the conference was a fantastic opportunity for the TauRx and GT Diagnostics teams to discuss progress in our work, share ideas and make connections. With record attendance at the event, it was a busy and very productive few days! We look forward to sharing more data soon.
