Which Alzheimer’s treatments are in phase 3 trials with potential 2026 readouts and who are the funders?
Executive summary
Several high‑profile Phase 3 Alzheimer’s trials could report results in 2026, including Eli Lilly’s anti‑amyloid remternetug, Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide EVOKE program, Annovis Bio’s buntanetap pivotal study, the POLARIS‑AD trial of AR1001, and a phase 3 metformin trial; funding and sponsorship vary across industry and academic/public sources and are inconsistently reported in the coverage [1] [2] [3] [4] [5].
1. Remternetug (Eli Lilly) — an anti‑amyloid successor with a March 2026 readout and industry backing
Eli Lilly’s remternetug, framed publicly as a successor to Lilly’s earlier anti‑amyloid candidate and tested in the TRAILRUNNER‑ALZ 1 Phase 3 program enrolling more than 1,600 patients, is expected to report top‑line Phase 3 data in March 2026 and is sponsored by Lilly as the developer [1] [2]. Early phase data presented at AD/PD 2023 showed IV remternetug lowered beta‑amyloid plaques across most dosing regimens versus placebo, a point Lilly has used to position the drug in late‑stage development [1]. Coverage highlights the readout as one of the most anticipated in early 2026, reflecting both scientific interest and Lilly’s commercial stake [1].
2. Donanemab and related Lilly programs — ongoing Phase 3 activity and staggered readouts
Donanemab remains an active late‑stage asset for Lilly with TRAILBLAZER‑ALZ‑3 and related studies continuing to shape expectations for anti‑amyloid approaches; NeurologyLive lists TRAILBLAZER‑ALZ‑3 as an ongoing Phase 3 program evaluating donanemab but does not specify a singular 2026 topline date for every donanemab cohort [6]. Lilly is the industry sponsor identified in clinical reporting around these trials, and the company’s broader anti‑amyloid portfolio influences how markets and analysts interpret remternetug readouts alongside donanemab activity [1] [6].
3. Semaglutide (Novo Nordisk) — large GLP‑1 trials EVOKE and EVOKE Plus with potential 2026 impact and corporate sponsorship
Novo Nordisk’s EVOKE and EVOKE Plus Phase 3 trials testing semaglutide in mild cognitive impairment or early Alzheimer’s are widely anticipated; BioSpace and Medscape note those trials as Phase 3 readouts expected in 2026 [2] [5]. Novo Nordisk is the industry sponsor for semaglutide, and positive results would not only affect Alzheimer’s strategy but broader GLP‑1 positioning in biopharma given the drug’s existing obesity and diabetes indications [2].
4. Annovis Bio’s buntanetap and POLARIS‑AD (AR1001) — oral candidates with staged readouts and smaller sponsors
Annovis Bio’s Phase 3 pivotal study of buntanetap — an oral small molecule tested with planned symptomatic and longer disease‑modifying analyses — has a protocol accepted by regulators and includes a six‑month symptomatic analysis and an 18‑month progression assessment, with partial readouts slated for 2026 [3] [7]. POLARIS‑AD, a global Phase 3 trial testing AR1001 (mirodenafil) targeting amyloid‑beta oligomers in more than 1,500 patients, is also anticipated to have topline results in 2026; the NeurologyLive report names the trial and timeline but does not elaborate on public or non‑industry co‑funders [3]. Both programs appear primarily industry‑led or biotech‑sponsored in the coverage [3] [7].
5. Repurposed drugs and academic/NIA involvement — metformin and the funding landscape
A phase 3 trial of metformin for Alzheimer’s (NCT04098666) began in 2021 with an anticipated completion in April 2026, illustrating that repurposed agents and academic trials could yield 2026 readouts as well [4]. The National Institute on Aging (NIA) remains an active funder and sponsor across many Alzheimer’s studies, with its registry showing dozens of Phase 3 and related trials and indicating that not all late‑stage work is solely industry‑funded [8]. Broader pipeline analyses also categorize trial sponsors as industry, public‑private partnerships, NIH/NIA and other entities, underscoring a mixed funding ecosystem [9] [10].
6. Caveats, gaps and how funders shape interpretation
Public reporting aggregates likely 2026 readouts but often omits full sponsor lists or co‑funding details; several pieces explicitly name industry sponsors (Lilly, Novo Nordisk, Annovis) while others (POLARIS‑AD, metformin) are documented without clear funder attribution in the cited coverage, limiting definitive statements about all financial backers [1] [2] [3] [4]. Meta‑analyses of the AD pipeline show a mix of industry and non‑industry sponsorship in Phase 3, and readers should expect a blend of biotech, large pharma, and government/academic sponsors to report 2026 results [11] [9].