About ADDF Overview
Alzheimer’s disease costs U.S. society more than $200 billion annually, making it the third most costly disease in the U.S. Only heart disease and cancer cost more.
The Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation was established in 2004 as a public charity to support the advancement of drugs to prevent, treat, and cure Alzheimer’s disease, related dementias, and cognitive aging. Our strategy of venture philanthropy is based on the idea that our research grant recipients are engaged in projects that are potentially viable in the marketplace with a possible return on investment. Our strategy has proven successful. The projects we have funded made measurable scientific strides, and some have returned their initial funding.
Since 1998, the ADDF has granted more than $51 million to fund over 370 Alzheimer’s drug discovery programs and clinical trials in academic centers and biotechnology companies in 19 countries. Scientists funded by the ADDF have tested over 20 new treatments in people with Alzheimer’s disease. Subsequent to the ADDF’s critical initial funding, our grantees have received commitments of over $2 billion in follow-on funding from government, pharmaceutical companies and venture capital firms to further advance their drug research.