CTAD 2026 — Clinical Trials on Alzheimer's Disease

CTAD 2026 — Clinical Trials on Alzheimer's Disease

Dates: November 16-19, 2026 Location: Boston, Massachusetts, USA Organizer: CTAD (Clinical Trials on Alzheimer's Disease) Website: [ctad-alzheimer.com](https://ctad-alzheimer.com)

Overview

CTAD 2026 — Clinical Trials on Alzheimer's Disease

Dates: November 16-19, 2026 Location: Boston, Massachusetts, USA Organizer: CTAD (Clinical Trials on Alzheimer's Disease) Website: [ctad-alzheimer.com](https://ctad-alzheimer.com)

Overview

CTAD 2026 will be the 19th annual Clinical Trials on Alzheimer's Disease conference, held in Boston, Massachusetts. This premier event continues its tradition of presenting the most important clinical trial results in Alzheimer's disease, bringing together researchers, pharmaceutical companies, and regulatory agencies to advance treatments["@ctad"].

CTAD has become the defining venue for late-breaking clinical trial data in Alzheimer's disease and dementia. The conference uniquely bridges academic research, pharmaceutical development, and regulatory science, making it essential for anyone involved in Alzheimer's therapeutic development["@ctad2025"].

Conference Highlights

Key Dates

• April 2026: Registration opens
• June 2026: Abstract submission deadline
• September 2026: Late-breaking abstract submission
• November 16-19, 2026: Main conference

Expected Highlights

• Late-breaking clinical trial results
• Regulatory guidance sessions
• Biomarker validation studies
• Prevention trial updates

Session Types

• Late-Breaking Trials: Results from recently completed Phase 2/3 trials
• Platform Presentations: Selected abstracts on therapeutic interventions
• Poster Sessions: Ongoing research and subgroup analyses
• Regulatory Sessions: FDA, EMA, and PMDA guidance
• Workshops: Clinical trial methodology and design

Conference Focus

Clinical Trial Results

CTAD is renowned for presenting late-breaking clinical trial data:

Disease-Modifying Therapies

• [Lecanemab](/therapeutics/lecanemab) ([Leqembi](/therapeutics/lecanemab)) — Anti-amyloid antibody with Phase 3 CLARITY-AD data[@van2023]
• [Donanemab](/therapeutics/donanemab) ([Kisunla](/therapeutics/donanemab)) — Anti-amyloid antibody with TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 2 results[@sims2023]
• Next-generation anti-amyloid antibodies — Novel candidates in development
• Anti-[tau](/proteins/tau) immunotherapies — Multiple programs in Phase 2/3[@mullard2024]
• Synaptic protection — Novel mechanisms targeting synaptic function
• Combination approaches — Multi-target strategies for enhanced efficacy

Symptomatic Treatments

• Cognitive enhancers
• Neuropsychiatric symptom management
• Sleep and circadian interventions

Prevention Trials

• A4 Study: Anti-amyloid treatment in preclinical Alzheimer's
• DIAN-TU: Autosomal dominant Alzheimer's prevention
• API: Alzheimer's Prevention Initiative trials
• Generation Studies: Prevention approaches

Biomarker Studies

Fluid Biomarkers

• [p-tau217](/biomarkers/p-tau-217) — Clinical validation and regulatory qualification
• [p-tau181](/biomarkers/p-tau-181) — Implementation in clinical practice
• [p-tau231](/biomarkers/p-tau-231) — Early detection applications
• [Neurofilament light chain (NfL)](/biomarkers/neurofilament-light-chain-nfl) — Neurodegeneration marker
• [GFAP](/biomarkers/gfap-glial-fibrillary-acidic-protein) — Astrocyte activation marker
• [Neurogranin](/biomarkers/neurogranin) — Synaptic integrity marker
• Combination biomarker panels — Multi-marker approaches for patient stratification

Imaging Biomarkers

• Amyloid PET standardization
• Tau PET treatment response
• Neurodegeneration markers
• Connectivity measures

Key Topics Expected

Anti-Amyloid Therapy Updates

• Long-term efficacy and safety data
• Real-world effectiveness studies
• ARIA management protocols
• Combination therapy approaches

Anti-Tau Therapy Progress

• Phase 3 trial results
• Tau PET biomarker correlations
• Optimal patient selection
• Mechanism of action studies

Blood Biomarker Implementation

• Clinical validation studies
• Reimbursement discussions
• Point-of-care testing
• Primary care integration

Novel Trial Designs

• Platform trials
• Adaptive designs
• Enrichment strategies
• Digital endpoints

Regulatory Guidance

• FDA perspectives on approval
• Accelerated approval considerations
• Biomarker qualification
• Clinical endpoint validation

Venue: Boston

Boston Convention Center

Located in the Seaport district of Boston:

• State-of-the-art facilities
• Multiple session rooms
• Large exhibition space
• Easy access from hotels and Logan Airport

About Boston

Boston holds a special place in neurology history:

• Massachusetts General Hospital: Leading AD research center
• Brigham and Women's Hospital: Major neurology research
• Harvard Medical School: World-renowned neuroscience research
• Multiple VA and academic medical centers
• Rich medical education tradition
• Hub for Alzheimer's disease research and biotech

Getting There

• Boston Logan International Airport (BOS): Major hub
• Amtrak: Regional rail connections (South Station)
• Public Transit: MBTA subway and commuter rail

Expected Clinical Trial Presentations

CTAD 2026 is expected to feature results and updates from key clinical trials:

Anti-Amyloid Programs

• [Lecanemab](/clinical-trials/lecanemab-clarity-ad) — Long-term extension data from CLARITY-AD
• [Donanemab](/clinical-trials/donanemab-trailblazer-alz2) — TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 2 open-label follow-up
• Gantenerumab — GRADUATE program results
• Crenezumab — CREAD program data

Anti-Tau Programs

• Tau immunotherapy programs — Multiple Phase 2/3 candidates
• ACI-35 — Tau liposome vaccine program
• Anti-tau ASOs — Antisense oligonucleotide approaches

Prevention Trials

• [A4 Study](/clinical-trials/a4-study) — Anti-amyloid treatment in preclinical Alzheimer's
• [DIAN-TU](/clinical-trials/dian-tu-001) — Dominantly inherited Alzheimer's prevention
• Alzheimer's Prevention Initiative — Genetic risk carrier trials

Disease-Modifying Therapy Highlights

CTAD 2026 will feature critical updates on disease-modifying therapies for Alzheimer's disease, representing the next generation of treatments beyond amyloid-targeting antibodies.

Amyloid-Targeting Therapies

Lecanemab (Leqembi) Updates

The [Lecanemab](/therapeutics/lecanemab) program will present:

• Clarity-OLE Data: Long-term safety and efficacy from the open-label extension study, demonstrating sustained cognitive benefits with continued treatment
• Real-World Effectiveness: Post-marketing data on real-world patient outcomes
• ARIA Management: Updated protocols for amyloid-related imaging abnormality monitoring and management
• Combination Approaches: Early data on potential combination with tau-targeting agents

Donanemab (Kisunla) Updates

[Donanemab](/therapeutics/donanemab) will present:

• TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 3: Prevention trial in preclinical Alzheimer's
• Biomarker Correlation: p-tau217 and other fluid biomarker changes as treatment response indicators
• Tau PET Subgroup Analysis: Impact of baseline tau pathology on treatment response
• Patient Selection: Refined enrichment strategies based on biomarker profiles

Next-Generation Anti-Amyloid Antibodies

Pipeline programs expected to present:

• Gantenerumab (Roche): GRADUATE program results
• Crenezumab (Roche): CREAD program data and re-analysis
• Novel candidates: Early-phase data on next-generation antibodies with improved brain penetration

Tau-Targeting Therapies

The tau therapy field has accelerated significantly, with multiple programs in late-stage development:

Anti-Tau Antibodies

• [E2814](/therapeutics/e2814-tau-antibody) (Eisai): First-generation anti-tau antibody in Phase 3
• [Lu AF87908](/therapeutics/lu-af87908-tau-antibody) (Lundbeck): Early-phase anti-tau antibody
• [Tilavonemab](/therapeutics/tilavonemab) (AbbVie): Anti-tau antibody program
• [Semorinemab](/therapeutics/semorinemab) (Roche): Anti-tau antibody showing cognitive benefit signals

Tau Aggregation Inhibitors

• [LMTM](/therapeutics/lmtm-tau-aggregation-inhibitor) (TauRx): Semifinalized data on tau aggregation inhibition
• [Anle253b](/therapeutics/anle253b-tau-aggregation-inhibitor) (AbbVie): Novel tau aggregation inhibitor

Tau-Targeting ASOs

• [MAPT ASO](/therapeutics/aso-tau-reduction) (Ionis/Wave Life Sciences): Antisense oligonucleotide targeting MAPT mRNA
• Tau reduction approaches: Novel mechanisms for reducing tau expression

Tau Vaccines

• [ACI-35](/therapeutics/aci-35-liposomal-vaccine) (AC Immune/Janssen): Liposome-based tau vaccine in Phase 2
• Axon Tau Vaccine: Active immunization targeting pathological tau

Novel Mechanisms Beyond Amyloid and Tau

CTAD 2026 will highlight emerging therapeutic targets:

Synaptic Protection

• Synaptic function modulators: Preserving dendritic spine integrity
• NMDA receptor modulators: Targeted excitotoxicity prevention
• Synaptic vesicle protein targeting: Maintaining neurotransmitter release

Neuroinflammation Modulation

• [TREM2](/genes/trem2) agonists: Microglial activation modulation
• CD33 inhibitors: Altering microglial phagocytosis
• IL-1β targeting: Neuroinflammation reduction approaches

Metabolic and Mitochondrial Targets

• Mitochondrial function modulators: Supporting neuronal energy metabolism
• Lipid metabolism modulation: Addressing lipid dysregulation in AD
• Oxidative stress reduction: Antioxidant approaches

Biomarker Endpoints

The biomarker-driven trial landscape continues to evolve:

Blood-Based Biomarkers

• [p-tau217](/biomarkers/p-tau-217): NFl-200 trial demonstrates utility as surrogate endpoint
• [p-tau181](/biomarkers/p-tau-181): Clinical implementation and reimbursement
• Combination panels: Multi-marker approaches for patient stratification

PET Imaging Biomarkers

• Amyloid PET: Standardization and quantification advances
• Tau PET: Treatment response monitoring applications
• Neurodegeneration markers: FDG-PET and synaptic density PET

Regulatory Updates

Anticipated regulatory discussions at CTAD 2026:

• FDA Guidance: Updated amyloid-targeting therapy approval pathways
• Accelerated Approval: Considerations for biomarker-based endpoints
• Combination Therapy: Regulatory framework for multi-target approaches
• Biomarker Qualification: Status of p-tau217 as surrogate endpoint
• Real-World Evidence: Post-approval requirements and real-world data collection

Novel Mechanisms

• TREM2-targeting therapies — Microglial modulation
• Combination approaches — Multi-target strategies
• Blood biomarker validation — p-tau217 as surrogate endpoint

Expected Session Themes

CTAD 2026 is anticipated to feature the following session themes:

Focused Symposia (Expected Topics)

• "Lessons from Anti-Amyloid Therapeutics" — Optimizing patient selection and outcomes
• "Tau Pathology: From Mechanism to Therapy" — Current status and future directions
• "Blood Biomarkers in Clinical Practice" — Implementation and interpretation
• "Neurodegeneration: Downstream Effects and Prevention" — Synaptic and neuronal protection
• "Combination Therapy Rationale" — Multi-target approaches for enhanced efficacy

Workshop Topics (Expected)

• Statistical Methods for Alzheimer's clinical trials
• Clinical Operations in diverse populations
• Data Sharing and collaborative analyses
• Regulatory Science for biomarker qualification
• Digital Endpoints in dementia trials

Late-Breaking Platform Presentations

• Phase 3 trial results from major pharmaceutical companies
• Novel therapeutic agent first-in-human data
• Regulatory pathway discussions and guidance
• Blood biomarker validation studies

Industry Presence

CTAD 2026 is expected to feature presentations from leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies:

• Eisai/Biogen — Leqembi development program and long-term data
• Eli Lilly — Donanemab and other neuroscience pipeline programs
• Roche/Genentech — Anti-amyloid and anti-tau programs
• Johnson & Johnson — Neuroscience pipeline and tau programs
• AbbVie — Neurodegeneration portfolio
• Axon Neuroscience — Tau vaccine program
• UCB Pharma — Tau immunotherapy approaches
• Prothelia — Proteostasis modulators
• ALZPath — Blood-based biomarker services
• Cerevel Therapeutics — Novel mechanism programs

Notable Expected Presentations

While specific programs are released closer to the conference, CTAD 2026 is expected to feature:

Late-Breaking Trials

• Anti-amyloid antibody Phase 3 results
• Anti-tau therapy efficacy data
• Novel mechanism Phase 2 results

Keynote Sessions

• Future of Alzheimer's therapeutic development
• Biomarker-driven clinical trials
• Global perspectives on Alzheimer's

Special Sessions

• Regulatory town hall
• Academic-industry partnership forum
• Early career investigator workshop

See Also

• [CTAD 2026: Amyloid-Targeting Antibody Trial Results](/events/ctad-2026-amyloid-antibody-trials)
• [CTAD 2026: Anti-Tau Therapy Updates](/events/ctad-2026-tau-immunotherapy)
• [AAIC 2026 — Alzheimer's Association International Conference](/events/aaic-2026)
• [AAN 2026 — American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting](/events/aan-2026)
• [AD/PD 2026 — Alzheimer's Disease/Parkinson's Disease](/events/adpd-2026)
• [MDS 2026 — Movement Disorder Society](/events/mds-2026)
• [CTAD Conference — CTAD general page](/events/ctad)

External Links

• [CTAD 2026 Official Website](https://ctad-alzheimer.com)
• [CTAD Conference Series](https://ctad-alzheimer.com)
• [CTAD Past Conferences](https://ctad-alzheimer.com/past-conferences)
• [Alzheimer's Association Clinical Trials](https://www.alz.org/trialmatch)

References