Jeffrey L. Cummings, United States of America

Chambers-Grundy Center for Transformative Neuroscience, University of Nevada Las Vegas
Jeffrey Cummings, MD, ScD, is the Joy Chambers-Grundy Professor of Brain Science, Vice Chair for Research, and Director of the Chambers-Gundy Center for Transformative Neuroscience, Department of Brain Health, School of Integrated Health Sciences, University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV). Dr. Cummings is a world-renowned Alzheimer’s researcher and leader of clinical trials. He has been recognized for his research and leadership contributions in the field of Alzheimer’s disease through the Henderson Award of the American Geriatrics Society (2006), the Ronald and Nancy Reagan Research Award of the national Alzheimer’s Association (2008), and the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Society for Behavioral and Cognitive Neurology (2017). In 2010, he was honored by the American Association of Geriatric Psychiatry with their Distinguished Scientist Award. In 2018, he was honored with the Leadership and Achievement Award by the International Society of CNS Drug Development, and he received the Bengt Winblad Lifetime Achievement Award from the national Alzheimer’s Association. In 2019, the International Psychogeriatric Association awarded him with the Distinguished Service Award and he received the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation’s Melvin R. Goodes Prize that honors an innovative researcher who has made a significant and lasting impact in the field. He was featured in the Gentleman’s Quarterly (June 2009) as a “Rock Star of Science™.” Dr. Cummings’ interests embrace clinical trials, developing new therapies for brain diseases, and the interface of neuroscience and society. Dr. Cummings completed Neurology residency and a Fellowship in Behavioral Neurology at Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts. US training was followed by a Research Fellowship in Neuropathology and Neuropsychiatry at the National Hospital for Nervous Diseases, Queen Square, London, England. Dr. Cummings was formerly Augustas Rose Professor of Neurology and Professor of Psychiatry at UCLA, Director of the Mary S. Easton Center for Alzheimer’s Disease Research at UCLA, and Director of the Deane F. Johnson Center for Neurotherapeutics at UCLA. He is past president of the Behavioral Neurology Society and of the American Neuropsychiatric Association. Dr. Cummings has authored or edited 43 books and published over 800 peer-reviewed papers.

Moderator of 2 Sessions

FORUM ON PHASE I-II CLINICAL TRIALS IN ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

Date
11.03.2021, Thursday
Session Time
18:30 - 19:30
Session Icon
Live
SPONSORED SYMPOSIUM

INDUSTRY SYMPOSIUM (NO CME/CPD CREDIT)

Date
13.03.2021, Saturday
Session Time
14:00 - 15:30
Session Description
THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE Aβ PATHWAY IN ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE - SUPPORTED BY EISAI

Session Description

Join Eisai for a virtual symposium focusing on the central role of amyloid beta (Aβ) in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Our expert faculty will provide a comprehensive overview of the evidence supporting Aβ alteration as an early event within the AD continuum, as well as a presentation of the latest developments regarding in vivo biomarkers of Aβ. The program will begin by reviewing the genetic evidence supporting a role for Aβ in AD, and cover the different Aβ species and their roles in brain toxicity. Finally, we will discuss the latest developments concerning in vivo biomarkers of Aβ, as well as amyloid positron emission tomography imaging and cerebrospinal fluid measures of Aβ dyshomeostasis.

Session Icon
On-Demand and Live Q&A

Presenter of 5 Presentations

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS

Session Type
SPONSORED SYMPOSIUM
Date
13.03.2021, Saturday
Session Time
14:00 - 15:30
Room
Industry Symposia 1
Lecture Time
14:00 - 14:15
Session Icon
On-Demand and Live Q&A

Q&A SESSION

Session Type
SPONSORED SYMPOSIUM
Date
13.03.2021, Saturday
Session Time
14:00 - 15:30
Room
Industry Symposia 1
Lecture Time
15:15 - 15:30
Session Icon
On-Demand and Live Q&A

ALZHEIMER THERAPEUTICS: POTENTIAL PIPELINE PREDICTIONS

Session Type
SYMPOSIUM
Date
13.03.2021, Saturday
Session Time
10:00 - 11:45
Room
On Demand Symposia A
Lecture Time
10:00 - 10:15
Session Icon
On-Demand

Abstract

Aims

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has a complex biology with many potential processes that might comprise targets for therapy.

Methods

We reviewed clinicaltrials.gov the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) database to determine the number of agents in all phases of the AD drug development pipeline as reflected in this registry. We use the NIH Common AD Research Ontology (CADRO) categories to determine the targets and therapeutic categories of the agents in trials.

Results

There are currently (of as of 2/27/2020) 121 unique agents in trials; 29 in Phase 3, 65 in Phase 2, and 27 in Phase 3. Amyloid-beta protein and hyperphosphorylated tau protein are important therapeutic targets --- 16 and 11 agents in the pipeline respectively --- and account for a major portion of the drugs in the AD pipeline. Neuroinflammation/inflection (20 agents) and synaptic plasticity/neuroprotection (20 agents) have the largest number of agents in trials across Phase 1, Phase 2, and Phase 3 trials. Metabolic/bioenergetic agents are being assessed in Phase 2 (6 agents) and Phase 1 (3 agents) trials. Eighty percent of the agents in the pipeline (97 of 121) are putative disease modifying drugs; 10% target cognitive enhancement and 10% address neuropsychiatric manifestations of AD. Of the total number of trials for drugs in the pipeline, 6 are in preclinical AD, 39 are in prodromal AD, and 45 are in AD dementia.

Conclusions

The AD drug development pipeline is beginning to deliver drugs that address important unmet needs of patients with AD or those at risk for the disease.

Hide