Central Nervous System
Insights on the major trends in aging disorders and pain conditions including the development of targeted therapies in clinical trial designs and patient care.
Expert opinions on innovative processes include protocol design, site training, and real time data quality analysis in central nervous systems.
Early, precise and efficient; the methods and technologies advancing Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s R&D
In this CNS whitepaper, which includes extracts from our survey of over 120 neurodegenerative therapeutic developers, we examine how innovative methodologies and technologies are being implemented to improve the success rate of clinical trials across a range of neurodegenerative disorders.
Clinical strategies to optimise software as a medical device (SaMD) for treating mental health
Mental health disorders affect millions, and with increasing diagnoses, the demand for new, accessible treatments is growing. In this whitepaper, we examine how SaMD, particularly through digital therapeutics, is providing new solutions for mental health management.
Therapeutic spotlight: Precision medicine considerations in rare diseases
In our latest therapeutic spotlight, ICON’s experts explore the evolving therapeutic landscape of precision medicine with a special focus on the unique application in ALS. We outline key considerations for developing patient-centric, streamlined precision medicine programs that promote patient engagement, improve protocol adherence and reduce dropout rates – ultimately accelerating the delivery of meaningful therapies to patients.
A mind for digital therapeutics: Considerations for DTx clinical trials in CNS indications
DTx deliver evidence-based therapeutic intervention using software to prevent, manage, or treat medical disorders or disease. Because of the evidence-based nature of DTx, in many cases a clinical trial is required to demonstrate safety and efficacy. However, since such therapeutics are relatively new, there are many aspects to these clinical trials that differ from trials for traditional therapeutics, and which sponsors will need to consider.
Traumatic brain injury trials
The manifestations and effects of TBI are varied and impact diverse populations. To improve prevention and therapy, we need to conduct further clinical research to evaluate and validate better strategies for diagnosis and disease characterisation. A better understanding of how TBI — mild and severe — manifests, can lead to better identification of biomarkers, and the development of prevention and treatment strategies.
Key considerations for Parkinson’s disease trials
While there are many advances in Parkinson’s Disease (PD), such as identification of new biomarkers to measure disease progression, valuable insights in study design coming from Alzheimer’s Disease trials, and creative approaches for patient recruitment, challenges still remain in this therapeutic area.
Key considerations in chronic pain clinical trials
There has been an increased prevalence of lifetime substance abuse, creating an urgent need for innovative pain medications without the use of opioids. Unfortunately, clinical development of non-opioid pain medications has been hindered by a massive placebo-response.In our whitepaper, we discuss the aspects of pain studies that sponsors will need to consider to ensure success of their chronic pain trial model.
Autism Spectrum Disorders: Approved therapies and clinical trials
The prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders is increasing over time due to changes in the definition of the disorder and earlier and better detection. In this podcast, ICON experts share an overview of Autism Spectrum Disorder, the pathogenesis and the challenges and future direction of clinical trials.
Blogs and media articles insights in central nervous system and Alzheimer's disease
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Blog: (Re)Designing schizophrenia trials: Lessons from the frontlines of CNS research
There is room for improvement in schizophrenia trials, and small decisions make a big difference. Read what experts say about designing and implementing trials to overcome persistent challenges.
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Media article: Shifting paradigms of clinical trial design accelerate CNS R&D
Meeting the demand for clinically relevant neurodegenerative treatments requires a paradigm shift in how central nervous system (CNS) clinical trials have been designed and executed. Bill Holt outlines how drug developers are now at the forefront of adopting more nuanced, cost-effective, and patient-centric clinical trial designs.
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Media article: Comment: Realising the full potential of biomarker-informed clinical trials for neurodegenerative disorders
This article by Peter Schueler is based on the recent whitepaper, “Early, precise and efficient; the methods and technologies advancing Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s R&D”. It explores how the recent approval of amyloid-targeting monoclonal antibodies for Alzheimer’s, following decades of failed trials, can be partially attributed to the development of improved biomarkers for patient screening and outcomes assessment.
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Media article: The role of digital therapeutics in central nervous system clinical trials
In this article, ICON's Louisa Steinberg and Maureen Glynn consider the role of digital therapeutics in the treatment of central nervous system conditions and how they can be used to improve clinical trials.
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Media article: Why pursuit of meaningful Alzheimer’s therapies is gathering pace
In this article in Neuro Rehab Times, ICON expert, Peter Schüler, reflects on the potential implications of new Alzheimer’s therapies on the research landscape.
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Media article: The role of digital health technology tools in supporting medical adherence
Dr Peter Schueler and Dr Isaac R Rodriguez Chavez outline the role of digital health technology tools in supporting medical adherence.
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Media article: The growing potential of neurological biomarkers as surrogate endpoints for accelerated drug development
This article by Dr. Peter Schueler explores how digital and liquid biomarkers are developing, and how they can impact the future of neurological studies.
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Blog: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health
Learn how the ongoing state of the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the global mental health crisis.
Receive more insights on the central nervous system
Please visit ICON's Preference Centre and select 'CNS, Pain and Ageing related disorders' under 'Therapeutic Areas of Interest' to receive new insights on rare and orphans diseasesCNs, Pain and Ageing related disorders..
CNS, Pain and Ageing related disorders
ICON’s experience of CNS, Pain and Ageing related disorder studies comprises global and regional clinical research in all major areas of neurology, psychiatry and pain research, and all phases of clinical drug development. Read more about ICON's services.