From the Journals

Experts Prioritize 3 Drugs for Alzheimer's

A global expert consensus identifies three repurposed drugs, including the shingles vaccine, as top candidates for Alzheimer disease clinical trials

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A Delphi consensus involving 23 international experts identified the live attenuated herpes zoster vaccine (Zostavax), sildenafil, and riluzole as high-priority candidates for Alzheimer's disease clinical trials. The analysis emphasized Zostavax for its proven benefit-risk balance, which includes a 20% reduction in new dementia diagnoses in vaccinated individuals. Sildenafil demonstrated promising cognitive enhancements in mouse models, while riluzole has shown potential in preserving brain metabolism in early-phase trials. The findings advocate for pragmatic phase 2b and phase 3 trials to facilitate efficient drug repurposing.

Original Source(s)

Experts Prioritize 3 Drugs for Alzheimer's

A global expert consensus identifies three repurposed drugs, including the shingles vaccine, as top candidates for Alzheimer disease clinical trials

  • by Kerri Miller

  • February 20, 2026

  • 5 min

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