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New findings published in Alzheimer's & Dementia suggest blood biomarkers are expected to become the standard method for diagnosing Alzheimer's, while ocular tests offer a non-invasive alternative for detecting at-risk patient populations NEW YORK, March 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation's (ADDF) Diagnostics Accelerator (DxA) authored a first-of-its-kind paper, "Unlocking ocular biomarkers for early detection of Alzheimer's disease," providing a landscape review of ocular biomarkers as another tool, alongside blood biomarkers, to aid in the early detection of Alzheimer's disease. The paper, which was published in Alzheimer's & Dementia, shares an informed perspective on the role of ocular biomarkers in the broader Alzheimer's diagnostics space and what defines a true ocular biomarker, while also highlighting the potential for ocular screening to identify at-risk patients who would otherwise go undiagnosed. The authors' assessment is based on hours of in-depth interviews with leading neurologists, ophthalmologists, optometrists, and primary care physicians from across the United States. Continue Reading ADDF x DxA Logo "Meaningful progress is being made in Alzheimer's research, with advances in novel biomarkers – including blood tests, retinal scans and digital tools – providing less invasive and more accessible ways to detect and diagnose Alzheimer's disease," said Howard Fillit, MD, Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer of the ADDF. "With the advent of these new tools, it is important to understand the appropriate context of use for each test. This paper shares a new and more nuanced perspective on the role of ocular biomarkers, which have the potential to identify at-risk individuals during routine eye exams, who otherwise may go undiagnosed." Blood-based testing for Alzheimer's is more cost-effective, convenient, and less invasive than current diagnostic methods and blood biomarkers are most likely to emerge as the standard clinical practice for Alzheimer's diagnostics. For patients to receive an Alzheimer's blood test, they must see their primary care doctor or a neurologist, which is not always accessible to all patients. As stated in the paper, the authors categorize ocular biomarkers as an additional non-invasive and accessible option to identify people at risk for Alzheimer's disease (e.g., pre-symptomatic) outside of the traditional settings of an annual physical or an exam with a neurologist. Ocular technologies are expected to cost between $100-200 of out-of-pocket costs and must meet minimum performance standards of 90-95% sensitivity and 75-85% specificity to qualify as a test for preclinical Alzheimer's. The authors believe focusing on these factors will help identify which of the four to eight million aging Americans who undergo an annual eye exam and who may be at risk for developing Alzheimer's. "This paper highlights the critical requirements and path to success of retinal biomarkers in Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosis", says Niranjan Bose, Managing Director, Health and Life Sciences at Gates Ventures. "While blood-based biomarkers are poised to take the lead in AD diagnostic applications, retinal biomarker testing can play a vital role in detecting preclinical AD and supporting differential diagnosis in neurodegenerative conditions. However, to make a meaningful impact in the future, it must meet rigorous technical standards similar to blood-based tests and demonstrate clinical utility to ensure integration as a reliable tool in early AD detection." Research into ocular biomarkers for detecting Alzheimer's disease is ongoing with early findings pointing to biomarkers in the retina as having the potential to provide key indicators of the disease. The retina displays similarities to the brain's cellular composition, and several neurodegenerative disorders are known to have manifestations in the retina. With ongoing technological advancements, ocular biomarkers have the potential to become a scalable, accessible tool that can be integrated into routine eye exams, making early detection of Alzheimer's disease more feasible and improving outcomes for at-risk individuals. "The pace of innovation in the Alzheimer's field has accelerated greatly in recent years, but major gaps persist, particularly in early, pre-symptomatic patient identification. Ocular biomarkers offer a novel method to detect the earliest molecular beginnings of Alzheimer's disease, and to do so with the potential for elevated sensitivity and without the burden of more invasive tests," said Sam Ulin, a Partner at ClearView Healthcare Partners who specializes in the translation of innovative technologies into clinical application. "Our work here with the DxA can hopefully serve as a guidepost to innovators in the space, helping them understand what is needed for an ocular biomarker test to meet the needs of patients and practitioners, maximizing the impact of these technologies on AD research, development, and ultimately, patient care." About The Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) Founded in 1998 by Leonard A. and Ronald S. Lauder, the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation is dedicated to rapidly accelerating the discovery of drugs to prevent, treat and cure Alzheimer's disease. The ADDF is the only public charity solely focused on funding the development of drugs for Alzheimer's, employing a venture philanthropy model to support research in academia and the biotech industry. The ADDF's leadership and contributions to the field have played a pivotal role in bringing the first Alzheimer's PET scan (Amyvid®) and blood test (PrecivityAD®) to market, as well as fueling the current robust and diverse drug pipeline. Through the generosity of its donors, the ADDF has awarded more than $370 million to fund 765 Alzheimer's drug discovery programs, biomarker programs and clinical trials in 21 countries. To learn more, please visit: . ABOUT THE DIAGNOSTICS ACCELERATOR (DxA) The Diagnostics Accelerator, created in July 2018, is a $100 million global research initiative from partners including ADDF Co-Founder Leonard A. Lauder, Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, MacKenzie Scott, the Dolby family, the Charles and Helen Schwab Foundation, The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration, among others, to develop novel biomarkers for the early detection of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. This research initiative is dedicated to accelerating the development of affordable and accessible biomarkers to diagnose Alzheimer's disease and related dementias and advance the clinical development of more targeted treatments. Through translational research awards and access to consulting support from industry experts, this program will challenge, assist and fund the research community in both academia and industry to develop novel peripheral and digital biomarkers. ABOUT CLEARVIEW HEALTHCARE PARTNERS ClearView is the leading independent strategy consulting firm focused on the life sciences. The Company was founded on the core belief that companies driving innovation in the life sciences need strategic partners that can combine deep scientific expertise, robust analytic approaches, and sound business instincts to create actionable and impactful results. These principles have enabled ClearView to build enduring partnerships with clients across the industry and around the globe, where we thrive in engagements where the stakes are high and the answer uncertain. ClearView meets these challenges with transparent problem-solving and dedicated thought partnership to create clarity on the path forward. For further information please visit . SOURCE Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM? 440k+ Newsrooms & Influencers 9k+ Digital Media Outlets 270k+ Journalists Opted In GET STARTED

Daniel M. Skovronsky, MD, PhD, of Eli Lilly & Company, Receives Prestigious 2025 Melvin R. Goodes Prize, Nobel Prize of Alzheimer's Research Goodes Prize Winners Declare Future of Alzheimer's Treatment Will Rest on Combination Therapies and Precision Medicine NEW YORK and PALM BEACH, Fla., March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) marked its Inaugural ADDF Scientific Summit in a momentous celebration of Alzheimer's science which brought together the most innovative and respected researchers in the field. The event, held on March 5th, featured the presentation of the esteemed Melvin R. Goodes Prize to Dr. Daniel M. Skovronsky, Chief Scientific Officer, Lilly, and President, Lilly Research Labs, and an address from Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN Chief Medical Correspondent, bestselling author, and practicing neurosurgeon. The Summit convened eight of the ten previous winners of the esteemed Goodes Prize for a symposium moderated by Dr. Niranjan Bose, Managing Director for Health & Life Sciences at Gates Ventures, spotlighting the cutting-edge advancements driving Alzheimer's therapeutics, biomarkers, and prevention, as well as the promising future of the field. These world-renowned scientists have each contributed novel ideas based around the biology of aging that are helping to revolutionize research. They, along with the ADDF, are leading and shaping the Alzheimer's field, propelling us toward combination therapies and precision medicine, the same strategy that has proven successful in cancer treatment. "It has been truly incredible to witness the pace of breakthroughs in Alzheimer's research over the past few years," said Dr. Howard Fillit, Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer of the ADDF. "Our trailblazing Goodes Prize recipients are catalyzing innovations that will enable us to tailor treatment approaches based on patients' individual biomarker profiles and combine drugs that target the specific causes of their disease. We are driving the next generation of care, which will use novel drugs targeting the underlying disease biology in tandem with current treatments to change the course of Alzheimer's." The Goodes Prize, recognized as the Nobel Prize of Alzheimer's research, is presented annually to a pioneering scientist to mark exceptional contributions to the Alzheimer's field. Skovronsky was recognized for his visionary work to develop critical diagnostic tests for Alzheimer's and for his leadership in developing and commercializing Kisunla, one of the first disease-modifying therapies for Alzheimer's patients. The game-changing diagnostics developed with Skovronsky's help include the Amyvid PET scan, the first FDA-approved diagnostic test for Alzheimer's which was developed with seed funding from the ADDF; the Tauvid PET scan, the first and only FDA-approved diagnostic for Tau in the brain; and a blood biomarker test for p-tau217 for the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. "It is a profound honor to accept the 2025 Melvin R. Goodes Prize," said Skovronsky. "This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of more than 35 years of Alzheimer's disease research to fight against this terrible disease. This award celebrates the power of collaboration and the unwavering commitment of the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation. Together, we can and will make history and change the world for patients everywhere." Skovronsky's work has been critical to the approvals of the first class of amyloid-targeting drugs for Alzheimer's, which offer patients options to delay disease progression for the first time and have set the foundation for the future of Alzheimer's therapies. As the next wave of therapeutics aimed at novel targets continues to advance, they can be combined with these anti-amyloids to increase efficacy and stop the disease in its tracks. "Six months ago, the ADDF celebrated the tenth anniversary of the Goodes Prize in Stockholm's City Hall, which is synonymous with the Nobel Prize. Now at our Inaugural ADDF Scientific Summit, we are once again highlighting the innovators driving progress in Alzheimer's on a global stage," said Ronald Lauder, Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of the ADDF. "Listening to our Goodes Prize scientists, it's amazing to hear how much progress has been made since my brother and I founded the ADDF in 1998 and to see the ADDF's fingerprints on the advancements we now take for granted – new drugs, new tests, and new prevention methods." Preceding the symposium, featured speaker Dr. Sanjay Gupta presented an address, highlighting the many reasons for hope as Alzheimer's science continues to make huge strides toward the next generation of treatments and prevention strategies. Gupta has earned multiple Emmy and Peabody awards for his health reporting and recently explored his own family history with Alzheimer's disease through filming a documentary, Dr. Sanjay Gupta Reports: The Last Alzheimer's Patient, which aired this past summer on CNN. "It was an honor to be a part of the ADDF's inaugural event celebrating its work for Alzheimer's patients," said Gupta. "We used to think about heart disease the way we thought about brain disease just a few years ago, as hopeless. But now that has changed. We can prevent heart disease, and thanks to exciting strides in how we treat and diagnose Alzheimer's, we will soon be able to prevent neurodegenerative diseases too. I am excited and I am optimistic about the future of Alzheimer's." About The Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) Founded in 1998 by Leonard A. and Ronald S. Lauder, the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation is dedicated to rapidly accelerating the discovery of drugs to prevent, treat and cure Alzheimer's disease. The ADDF is the only public charity solely focused on funding the development of drugs for Alzheimer's, employing a venture philanthropy model to support research in academia and the biotech industry. The ADDF's leadership and contributions to the field have played a pivotal role in bringing the first Alzheimer's PET scan (Amyvid®) and blood test (PrecivityAD®) to market, as well as fueling the current robust and diverse drug pipeline. Through the generosity of its donors, the ADDF has awarded more than $370 million to fund 765 Alzheimer's drug discovery programs, biomarker programs and clinical trials in 21 countries. To learn more, please visit: . Media Contact: Emily Berkowitz, Senior Director of Communications, ADDF [email protected] 617-894-3540 SOURCE Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM? 440k+ Newsrooms & Influencers 9k+ Digital Media Outlets 270k+ Journalists Opted In GET STARTED