Top 5 CROs for Alzheimer’s Research
The global population is now living longer than ever, and according to the World Health Organization (WHO), 1 in 6 people will be aged 60 years or over by 2030. With the elderly population growing across countries worldwide, the incidence of age-related conditions like Alzheimer’s disease is rising along with it. Alzheimer’s disease is a chronic neurodegenerative disease that destroys brain cells and worsens our memory and cognitive thinking abilities over time. In the United States (US), Alzheimer’s is ranked as the seventh leading cause of death and is the most common cause of dementia among older adults.
Every year, September marks the World Alzheimer’s Month campaign, an initiative that serves to change perceptions and increase existing public knowledge around Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. As part of the campaign, World Alzheimer’s Day 2024 will take place on September 21, with the mission to challenge why so many people still wrongly believe that dementia is a part of normal aging. During this time, Alzheimer’s Disease International calls on everyone, from individuals to large companies including contract research organizations (CROs), to get involved with these campaigns.
This September, TFS HealthScience (TFS) Neuroscience CRO is joining the fight against Alzheimer’s disease. To spotlight the role organizations with CNS expertise (central nervous system) like ours have in advancing Alzheimer’s research, this article will introduce the top five CROs paving the way for innovations in Alzheimer’s clinical trials.
The Latest Drug Development Advances in Alzheimer’s Research
There is no known cure for Alzheimer’s disease yet. However, there have been significant clinical development leaps recently that have led to new drug and non-drug options that could help treat symptoms and delay disease progression. As of 2024, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved three medications that help change disease progression in Alzheimer’s.
- Aducanumab (Aduhelm®): An anti-amyloid antibody intravenous (IV) infusion therapy that received accelerated approval in June 2021 by the FDA to treat early Alzheimer’s disease. However, the manufacturer, Biogen, announced that aducanumab will be discontinued and will only be available until the end of 2024.
- Donanemab (Kisunla™): An anti-amyloid antibody IV infusion therapy that received traditional approval from the FDA in July 2024 to treat early Alzheimer’s disease. The label includes people living with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or mild dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease who have confirmation of elevated beta-amyloid in the brain.
- Lecanemab (Leqembi®): An anti-amyloid antibody infusion therapy that was approved by the FDA in July 2023 to treat early Alzheimer’s disease. After aducanumab, lecanemab was the second therapy to demonstrate that removing beta-amyloid from the brain reduces cognitive and functional decline in people living with early Alzheimer’s.
Understanding all available options can help individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers better cope with symptoms and improve their quality of life.
Top Five CNS CROs to Consider for Alzheimer’s Disease Research
Driven by an aging world population and a growing prevalence of CNS disorders like Alzheimer’s, the global neurology CRO market is expected to reach a value of US$11.40 billion by 2032, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.65%. In this growing industry, these five CNS CROs stand out at leading organizations supporting innovations in Alzheimer’s research!
1. Veristat Neurology CRO
Founded: 1994
Headquarters: Southborough, Massachusetts
Company Size: Under 1,000 employees
First up on our list of leading CROs in Alzheimer’s research is Veristat, a Canadian company with exceptional expertise and comprehensive services in the field of neuroscience. They emphasize a focus on developing novel CNS and neurology therapies, resulting in over 200 clinical trials and consulting projects supported in the last five years. These include projects related to neurodegenerative diseases and Alzheimer’s clinical trials. In addition to their team of CNS experts who are experienced with navigating the complexities of CNS and Alzheimer’s clinical trials, this mid-size neurology CRO stands out by providing sponsors with creative and strategic approaches to overcome these challenges. As highlighted by Veristat themselves, the company is large enough to execute projects effectively while still being small enough to provide personalized attention to their clients. Their patient-centric approach and dedication to their clients’ goals has proved Veristat to be a reliable and capable partner for sponsors in Alzheimer’s research.
2. ethica Neurology CRO
Founded: 2002
Headquarters: Saint-Laurent, Quebec, Canada
Company Size: Less than 100 employees
ethica is another full-service neurology CRO with a variety of therapeutic areas of expertise, including Alzheimer’s disease. Recognizing the global public health challenges posed by neurological conditions like this, ethica has a devoted CNS team for understanding the unique complexities involved in neuroscience drug research. In fact, of their 40 completed neurology studies since founding, 9% were composed of Alzheimer’s clinical trials. Part of Veristat’s ability to reach such success in complex CNS studies is attributed to their longstanding relationships with trained investigators and high-performing sites globally. This network provides them with flexible access to resources that can proactively address recruitment needs in Alzheimer’s research. Overall, sponsors can expect to benefit from Veristat’s wide range of services, with support teams for medical writing, study management and monitoring, medical affairs, and biostatistics across Phase I–Phase IV neuroscience clinical trials.
3. TFS HealthScience Neuroscience CRO
Founded: 1996
Headquarters: Lund, Sweden
Company Size: 800 employees
TFS is a leading global mid-size CNS CRO with a presence of nearly 800 clinical research professionals operating out of more than 20 countries in North America, Spain, Europe, and Asia Pacific. The company possesses expert teams dedicated to several therapeutic areas, including its Neuroscience division, which provides full-service support through Phases 1-3 of clinical development, as well as post-authorization and real-world evidence (RWE) studies. As a mid-size neurology CRO, TFS Neuroscience offers small, medium, and large global neuroscience sponsors access to their seasoned experts who are familiar with overcoming challenges associated with Alzheimer’s clinical trials. This experience is emphasized by TFS’s extensive portfolio of more than 335 neurological studies with nearly 40,000 participants in 3,000 clinical sites across 30 countries. Of these, 10% of studies by TFS Neuroscience were Alzheimer’s clinical trials.
In addition to the company’s vocal advocacy for awareness campaigns like World Alzheimer’s Day, TFS strongly believes in collaborating with neuroscience-specialized academic research organizations, patient advocacy organizations, and consultancies in Europe and the US to benefit from their external advice and support for CNS studies. As the landscape of Alzheimer’s and neurological disease research continues to evolve in the future, TFS is staying up to date with the latest trends and challenges.
4. Linical Neurology & Psychiatry CRO
Founded: 2005
Headquarters: Osaka, Japan
Company Size: Nearly 1,000 employees
Another leading mid-size neurology CRO is Linical, which has a strong foundation in CNS diseases and disorders. The company’s global presence across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific enables it to access diverse patient populations and meet complex regional regulatory requirements efficiently. On top of the several strong strategic relationships Linical maintains with investigator sites, industry experts, and other vendors, they are also committed to meeting the highest operational excellence while delivering quality data and timely study execution. Linical’s excellent quality standards in clinical research has garnered multiple CRO accolades, including the Vaccine Industry Excellence (ViE) Award nomination for Best CRO and the 2020 CRO Leadership Award for Overall Compatibility. Within the field of neurology and psychiatry, Linical’s team of experienced clinical research professionals offer strategic patient recruitment strategies and patient-centric study approaches to keep up with the competitive landscape of neuroscience research, making them a trusted partner for sponsors conducting Alzheimer’s clinical trials.
5. Allucent Neuroscience CRO
Founded: 2018
Headquarters: Cary, North Carolina
Company Size: Under 5,000 employees
Last, but certainly not least, on our list of top CROs in Alzheimer’s research is Allucent Neuroscience for its extensive experience and commitment to improving quality of life in those with neurological disorders. With over 30 years in the field, Allucent has been at the forefront of CNS clinical development projects, successfully conducting around 150 neuroscience trials across more than 20 indications, encompassing 15,450 patients across almost 2000 clinical sites. Of these CNS studies, Alzheimer’s disease makes up the second highest therapeutic area (after multiple sclerosis), with the company having 13 ongoing studies for this disease. Allucent’s dedication is further demonstrated by their involvement in regulatory interactions across the US, Canada, and Europe, ensuring that their trials align with the latest guidelines and advances in CNS treatments. Furthermore, Allucent readily adopts a patient-centric approach to managing Alzheimer’s clinical trials to minimize any effects caused by influencing factors like patient expectations, placebo effects, and investigator biases. The company’s achievements in clinical research are underscored by their recognition with two CRO Leadership Awards presented by Clinical Leader and Life Science Connect.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the global aging population is linked to a rising prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease and driving the need for more innovations in neurological drug development, as well as support from CNS CROs. The top five neurology CROs outlined in this article—Veristat, ethica, TFS, Linical, and Allucent—exemplify leadership in advancing Alzheimer’s research through their expertise, strategic partnerships, and commitment to overcoming the complexities of CNS studies. As we approach World Alzheimer’s Day on September 21, 2024, these CROs continue to play a crucial role in driving progress and improving outcomes for patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Join TFS this World Alzheimer’s Month as we reduce stigma around this condition and dementia in older adults. To learn about what you can do to support this movement and promote public education on Alzheimer’s, visit the Alzheimer’s Disease International website.
About TFS HealthScience CRO
Discover how TFS Neuroscience is paving the way for advancements in Alzheimer’s research with their expert team and innovative clinical solutions. By partnering with academic institutions and patient advocacy groups, they can offer sponsors comprehensive access to industry experts, as well as efficient patient-focused studies. Learn more about how TFS can support your Alzheimer’s clinical trials! Visit our landing page or contact a TFS representative today.
Interested in learning about five more top neurology CROs leading the industry in brain research? Visit our article here!
Connect with Us
Contact us today to discover how TFS can be your strategic CRO partner in clinical development.
