Many AD patients take supplements such as ginkgo biloba, and some trials exclude these patients. Alternatively, in trials examining available medications or supplements for therapeutic benefit in AD, the greater availability of these agents can pose a challenge to enrollment. The TRIMCI study of the anti-inflammatory agent trifusal in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) failed to meet selleck its recruitment goals because of the high incidence of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use among potential participants, which was exclusionary [7]. A recent trial of latrepirdine (formerly dimebon) excluded patients taking medications currently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of AD. This study was conducted in part in the US, where there is a high prevalence of use of these prescription medications among those diagnosed with AD.

The data related to recruitment for this trial are not yet available. To increase the appeal to participants seeking new treatments, some studies incorporate alternate allocation, whereby randomly assigned participants have a greater chance of being assigned to an active treatment group than the placebo group. Although this may increase the appeal of participation to some patients, alternate allocation also requires increased sample size to maintain statistical power and it remains unclear whether this strategy abbreviates the total study recruitment period [8]. Design changes made after study initiation Changes to study conduct after trial initiation but before the close of enrollment can impact recruitment.

The original entry criteria for a phase III trial of tarenflurbil included mild-to-moderate AD patients with an MMSE score of between 15 and 26. Three months after enrollment began, the MMSE criteria for entry were changed to 20 to 26 as a result of findings from a phase II study [9]. Overall trial recruitment occurred from February 2005 until April 2008. Such changes mid-enrollment can counteract previous recruitment strategies. Similarly, stopping a study medication dose prior to closing enrollment is likely to impact recruitment. Dosing changes, especially those brought about by safety AV-951 concerns, must be communicated to new participants as part of informed consent and may deter enrollment of new subjects. The high dose of the anti-amyloid antibody bapineuzumab was halted for safety reasons prior to closure of enrollment in a recent phase III study.

Alternatively, the publication of positive data related to selleckchem Lenalidomide a study drug might improve enrollment. The same phase III study of bapineuzumab was still enrolling when data were published from phase II efficacy [10] and biomarker [11] trials. Data on the recruitment rates for the bapineuzumab phase III study are not yet available. Trials of drugs for which previous positive trials have been conducted are likely to enroll quickly.