Alzheimer's News

Scientists detect variant gene in Alzheimer's disease

2007-01-14T15:40:00.000-08:00

Having genetically screened some 6,000 people, the researchers found that people with Alzheimer’s had distinguishing genetic markers in just one of the seven genes, known as SORL1. Patients with the variant forms of the gene produce less SORL1 than usual, leading to a different traffic pattern and allowing a particular protein in nerve cells, known as the amyloid precursor protein, to be converted into toxic form.

AstraZeneca Decides to Proceed With Targacept In Developing Alzheimer's Drug :: WRAL.com

2006-12-27T19:56:00.000-08:00

AstraZeneca Decides to Proceed With Targacept In Developing Alzheimer's Drug :: WRAL.com: "Shares in pharmaceutical development firm Targacept soared more than 22 percent Wednesday morning following news that an Alzheimer’s project will move forward with partner AstraZeneca.
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Dosing Commenced in Phase IIa PBT2 Trial of Alzheimer's Patients: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance

2006-12-20T08:38:00.000-08:00

Dosing Commenced in Phase IIa PBT2 Trial of Alzheimer's Patients: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance: "Prana Biotechnology Limited (Nasdaq: PRAN / ASX: PBT) today announced that dosing has commenced in its Phase IIa clinical trial of PBT2 in patients with early Alzheimer's disease.

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The PBT2-201-Euro trial is being conducted in seven centers throughout Sweden and will focus on exploring the safety and tolerability of PBT2"

Athenagen commences Alzheimers trial - Pharmaceutical Business Review

2006-12-15T08:11:00.000-08:00

Athenagen commences Alzheimers trial - Pharmaceutical Business Review: "Athenagen has commenced a phase II study of the its lead compound, GTS-21, in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

GTS-21 has demonstrated memory and cognition enhancement activity in human clinical trials. GTS-21 has been studied in multiple phase I studies in healthy volunteers and one phase I/II study in schizophrenic patients. In all studies, the compound was well tolerated. "

News: Neuro-Hitech Expands Size of Clinical Trial for Use of Huperzine A in the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease. Genetic Engineering News - Biotechno

2006-12-09T10:52:00.000-08:00

News: Neuro-Hitech Expands Size of Clinical Trial for Use of Huperzine A in the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease. Genetic Engineering News - Biotechnology from Bench to Business: "Neuro-Hitech, Inc. (OTCBB: NHPI), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of next-generation compounds against proven targets for neurodegenerative diseases, today announced that it has decided to expand the enrollment level for its Phase II clinical trial on the efficacy of Huperzine A, a highly promising second-generation acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, for people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's. The trial will be expanded by 30 to 60 participants,"

PharmaLive: EPIX Pharmaceuticals Initiates Phase 2a Clinical Trial in Patients with Mild Alzheimer's Disease

2006-12-09T10:51:00.000-08:00

PharmaLive: EPIX Pharmaceuticals Initiates Phase 2a Clinical Trial in Patients with Mild Alzheimer's Disease: "EPIX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:EPIX) announced today the initiation of a Phase 2a clinical trial to further evaluate PRX-03140 as monotherapy and in combination with donepezil for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease."

Researcher Charged With Conflict - Forbes.com

2006-12-05T09:00:00.000-08:00

Researcher Charged With Conflict - Forbes.com: "In a rare federal prosecution, a leading government Alzheimer's researcher was charged Monday with a criminal conflict of interest for performing lucrative private drug company work that overlapped his official duties.

Prosecutors alleged Dr. Trey Sunderland of the National Institutes of Health received $285,000 in improper consulting fees and travel expenses from Pfizer (nyse: PFE - news - people ), Inc., for work on early indicators of Alzheimer's at the same time he also oversaw similar NIH business with the drugmaker."

Amyloid-busting compound to start trials in Alzheimer’s

2006-11-30T12:44:00.000-08:00

Amyloid-busting compound to start trials in Alzheimer’s: "The compound, called caprospinol (SP 233), is remarkable because it appears to not only block the formation of amyloid, thought to contribute to the nerve damage seen in Alzheimers patients, but also cause deposits already present in the brain to disappear."

Medivation Provides Clinical Development Update For Its Three Programs

2006-11-22T11:21:00.000-08:00

Medivation Provides Clinical Development Update For Its Three Programs: "'Given the safety and significant efficacy data generated in our recently completed Phase 2 trial in Alzheimer's disease, we believe that aggressive development of Dimebon is clearly merited,' said David Hung, M.D., president and chief executive officer of Medivation. 'We, therefore, are pleased to announce a comprehensive clinical development program that we believe puts us on-track to apply for marketing approval in Alzheimer's disease in 2010. "

Medivation updates Dimebon outlook

2006-11-18T16:15:00.000-08:00

Medivation updates Dimebon outlook: Medivation Inc. says positive data from recent midstage studies of Dimebon put the company on track to apply for Food and Drug Administration approval for Alzheimer's in 2010.

Tramiprosate (Alzhemed) Phase II Clinical Results Published in Neurology

2006-11-06T14:37:00.000-08:00

PharmaLive: Tramiprosate (Alzhemed) Phase II Clinical Results Published in Neurology: "Neurochem Inc. is pleased to announce that Neurology...has published today an online version of a publication on the Phase II clinical trial of tramiprosate (3-amino-1-propanesulfonic acid (3APS); ALZHEMED(TM)) conducted in mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. Tramiprosate (ALZHEMED(TM)) represents a potential new class of disease-modifying agents and is Neurochem's investigational product candidate for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The results reported in the paper demonstrate that long-term administration of tramiprosate (ALZHEMED(TM)) is safe, tolerated and reduces the level of amyloid (beta)42 (A(beta)42) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of AD patients. In addition, mean ADAS-cog(1) and MMSE(2) scores remained near baseline levels in the mild AD group over the 20 months of follow-up."

Allon Completes Dosing for AL-108 Phase Ib Clinical Trial

2006-11-02T21:43:00.000-08:00

Allon Completes Dosing for AL-108 Phase Ib Clinical Trial: "Allon Therapeutics Inc. (TSX:NPC), The Neuro Protection CompanyTM, today announced that dosing has been completed in a Phase Ib human clinical trial evaluating the Company's product AL-108 as a treatment for Alzheimer's disease."

DURECT Provides An Update To The Memryte(TM) Program Under Development By Voyager Pharmaceutical Corp.

2006-10-25T08:47:00.000-07:00

DURECT Provides An Update To The Memryte(TM) Program Under Development By Voyager Pharmaceutical Corp.: "DURECT Corporation (Nasdaq: DRRX) announced today that Voyager Pharmaceutical has informed DURECT that Voyager is ending its Phase III clinical trials for Memryte(TM) for the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease in order to get an earlier look at potential efficacy from over 600 accrued patients."

starbulletin.com | News | /2006/10/13/

2006-10-21T22:13:00.000-07:00

starbulletin.com | News | /2006/10/13/: "A University of Hawaii professor of psychiatry who participated in a national study of antipsychotic drugs used to treat Alzheimer's disease said he 'wouldn't make a blanket statement' that they are not effective.

'And this is only Phase 1 results,' said Dr. Iqbal 'Ike' Ahmed, principal investigator for the research in Hawaii. The study had four phases, he pointed out."

PipelineReview.com | Business Intelligence Center - Regulatory Approval to Start PBT2 Phase IIa Clinical Trial in Alzheimer’s Disease Patients

2006-10-21T22:12:00.000-07:00

PipelineReview.com | Business Intelligence Center - Regulatory Approval to Start PBT2 Phase IIa Clinical Trial in Alzheimer’s Disease Patients: "Prana Biotechnology Limited (NASDAQ: PRAN, ASX: PBT), today announced that it has received regulatory approval from Sweden’s Medical Products Agency (MPA) to start a Phase IIa clinical trial of its proprietary lead compound, PBT2, in patients with early Alzheimer’s disease. The trial will be conducted in seven centres in Sweden.

The study, which will commence next month, will evaluate the safety and tolerability of PBT2. In addition, it will examine the drug’s mechanism of action and indicators of potential efficacy in treating Alzheimer’s disease. Results are expected to be announced in the fourth quarter of 2007."

Pot-Like Compound May Slow Alzheimer's

2006-10-21T22:11:00.000-07:00

Pot-Like Compound May Slow Alzheimer's: "A marijuana-like compound may cut brain inflammation and slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease, scientists report.

The compound is a synthetic cannabinoid, made in a lab to resemble marijuana."

Memory halts study after FDA requests more data - Pharmaceutical Business Review

2006-10-21T22:10:00.001-07:00

Memory halts study after FDA requests more data - Pharmaceutical Business Review: "Memory Pharmaceuticals has halted its phase IIa trial of MEM 3454 for Alzheimer's disease, after the FDA raised concerns over data relating to the drug."

UCSD receives $52 million to lead Alzheimer's disease study

2006-10-21T22:10:00.000-07:00

UCSD receives $52 million to lead Alzheimer's disease study: "The Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study (ADCS), a federally established consortium directed by Leon Thal, M.D., Director of the Shiley-Marcos Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine, will receive $52 million over six years to conduct several new clinical trials on Alzheimer's disease, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced today. The award is the third renewal of a cooperative agreement between the NIH's National Institute on Aging (NIA) and UC San Diego, which coordinates the consortium of nearly 70 research sites in the United States and Canada."

Durect says Voyager ends trial of Alzheimer's drug�|�Reuters.com

2006-10-21T22:09:00.000-07:00

Durect says Voyager ends trial of Alzheimer's drug�|�Reuters.com: "Durect Corp. (DRRX.O: Quote, Profile, Research) on Thursday said that Voyager Pharmaceutical is ending its late-stage trials of an Alzheimer's disease treatment that uses Durect's sustained-release technology.

Durect, which specializes in drug-delivery technology, said Voyager had ended the Phase III trials of its drug, called Memryte, 'in order to get an earlier look at potential efficacy' from over 600 patients."

CTV.ca | Alzheimer's study focuses on plant used in China

2006-10-21T22:07:00.000-07:00

CTV.ca | Alzheimer's study focuses on plant used in China: "A plant used widely in China is the focus of a national clinical trial that aims to see if it could help treat Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia.

The University of North Carolina Hospitals are participating in the national clinical trial on Chinese club moss, which is already being sold in stores with nutritional supplements and is used in China as a treatment for cognitive disorders."

Drug class not effective for Alzheimer`s

2006-10-12T09:36:00.000-07:00

Drug class not effective for Alzheimer`s: "A study funded by the National Institute of Mental Health in Bethesda, Md., says antipsychotic drugs used to treat Alzheimer`s patients are mostly ineffective."

Prana PBT2 IIa Trial

2006-10-09T10:18:00.000-07:00

Prana PBT2 IIa Trial: "Thursday, Prana Biotechnology Limited (PRAN | charts | news | PowerRating), revealed the grant of approval from regulatory authority of Sweden, Medical Products Agency to initiate PhaseIIa clinical trial for its drug, PBT2, indicated in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease in Sweden. The company said the trial would be conducted at seven locations and expects results of the trial during the fourth quarter of 2007."

Regulatory Approval To Start PBT2 Phase IIa Clinical Trial In Alzheimer's Disease Patients

2006-10-07T17:20:00.000-07:00

Regulatory Approval To Start PBT2 Phase IIa Clinical Trial In Alzheimer's Disease Patients: "Prana Biotechnology Limited (Nasdaq: PRAN; ASX: PBT), today announced that it has received regulatory approval from Sweden's Medical Products Agency (MPA) to start a Phase IIa clinical trial of its proprietary lead compound, PBT2, in patients with early Alzheimer's disease. The trial will be conducted in seven centres in Sweden."

Optics Tests for Early Alzheimer's Diagnosis Make Significant Advances

2006-10-04T08:43:00.000-07:00

Newswise | Optics Tests for Early Alzheimer's Diagnosis Make Significant Advances: "Providing an update on progress and new findings on his optical tests for the early detection of Alzheimer’s disease, Lee Goldstein of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School will describe dramatic new developments in the technology during a plenary talk at Frontiers in Optics, the annual meeting of the Optical Society of America (OSA) in Rochester, N.Y., which takes place next week.

At the plenary talk, Goldstein will present “proof of concept” evidence obtained in mice that the tests can detect early molecular signs of the disease in the eye even before Alzheimer’s pathology is present in the brain. This achievement raises hopes for detecting the disease at its earliest stages and slowing the progression of the disease to a crawl."

Newswise | Optics Tests for Early Alzheimer's Diagnosis Make Significant Advances

2006-10-03T21:42:00.000-07:00