In this episode, we unpack the key insights from Forum Discussion 04 at the AD/PD™ 2025 International Conference — “Translational Drug Development in AD (Phase I–III) and Relevance for Treatment and Disease Modification: What Could Be Promising Strategies? Small Molecules for Symptomatic & Disease Modification.”

Moderated by Dr. Jeffrey Cummings (USA) and Dr. Howard Fillit (USA), this forward-looking discussion brought together leaders in drug development and clinical research, including Prof. Miia Kivipelto (Sweden), Dr. Reisa Sperling (USA), Prof. Philip Scheltens (Netherlands), and Dr. Geoffrey Kerchner (Switzerland), to explore promising approaches in Alzheimer’s treatment — from lifestyle interventions to next-gen therapeutics.

Key highlights include:

• How the biology of aging is shaping the future of drug discovery in Alzheimer’s disease
• Updates from the FINGER trial and how global prevention initiatives are influencing public health policy
• The importance of biomarkers in linking therapeutic effects to cognitive outcomes in clinical trials
• What makes a biotech company investment-worthy — insights from both scientific and venture capital perspectives
• The critical role of Phase II trials in identifying viable candidates for late-stage development
• Challenges in Alzheimer’s drug pipelines — from trial recruitment to demonstrating disease modification
• The growing emphasis on combination therapies and the integration of lifestyle-based strategies alongside pharmacological approaches

This episode is especially relevant for drug developers, clinical trial designers, translational scientists, policy makers, and investors focused on advancing both symptomatic and disease-modifying therapies for Alzheimer’s disease.

This podcast was created using AI to provide a quick and insightful summary of an AD/PD™ 2025 session. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, listeners are encouraged to refer to original conference materials and recordings for detailed information.

The AD/PD™ 2025 International Conference on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases and related neurological disorders, took place on April 1-5, 2025, in Vienna Austria.

https://adpd.kenes.com/