Scientists detect variant gene in Alzheimer's disease

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

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.
"

Dosing Commenced in Phase IIa PBT2 Trial of Alzheimer's Patients: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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/

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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."

Copper helps brain function — could tweaking circuits make us smarter?

Copper helps brain function — could tweaking circuits make us smarter?: "The flow of copper in the brain has a previously unrecognized role in cell death, learning and memory, according to research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. The researchers' findings suggest that copper and its transporter, a protein called Atp7a, are vital to human thinking. They speculate that variations in the genes coding for Atp7a, as well as other proteins of copper homeostasis, could partially account for differences in thinking among individuals."

JS Online:Alzheimer's might share traits with prion disorders

JS Online:Alzheimer's might share traits with prion disorders: "Scientists have been able to induce brain disease in mice by injecting extracts of the brains of people who died of Alzheimer's disease, a finding that suggests that Alzheimer's has some characteristics of prion brain disorders such as mad cow disease and chronic wasting disease."

ScienceDaily: Copper Circuits Help Brain Function -- Could Tweaking The Circuits Make Us Smarter?

ScienceDaily: Copper Circuits Help Brain Function -- Could Tweaking The Circuits Make Us Smarter?: "The flow of copper in the brain has a previously unrecognized role in cell death, learning and memory, according to research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. The researchers' findings suggest that copper and its transporter, a protein called Atp7a, are vital to human thinking. They speculate that variations in the genes coding for Atp7a, as well as other proteins of copper homeostasis, could partially account for differences in thinking among individuals."

Alzheimer's might share traits with prion disorders

JS Online:Alzheimer's might share traits with prion disorders: "Scientists have been able to induce brain disease in mice by injecting extracts of the brains of people who died of Alzheimer's disease, a finding that suggests that Alzheimer's has some characteristics of prion brain disorders such as mad cow disease and chronic wasting disease."

Transition Therapeutics rises on drug deal with Elan

globeandmail.com : Transition Therapeutics rises on drug deal with Elan: "Transition Therapeutics Inc. is teaming up with Dublin-based Elan Corp. to develop a new drug against Alzheimer's disease, in a deal that could land the Canadian company $200-million (U.S.).

The collaboration announced Wednesday covers development and commercialization of Toronto-based Transition's therapeutic agent AZD-103."

Medivation Shares Soar on Dimebon Study Results

Medivation Shares Soar on Study Results: "Biotechnology company Medivation Inc. said Thursday a midstage study testing its Dimebon treatment for Alzheimer's showed the drug was significantly effective, sending shares soaring in morning trading.

The Phase II clinical trial involved 183 patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease at 11 sites in Russia. The drug met all five of its efficacy endpoints, which included different measurement scales for improvement in the disease, during the six-month, randomized and double-blind study.

Results also showed the drug was well tolerated with mild side effects."

BioWorld Today

BioWorld Today: "Addex Pharmaceuticals SA raised CHF40 million (US$31.9 million) in a Series C financing to fund Phase II trials of its lead compound, ADX10059, a negative allosteric modulator of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5), in three different indications.

Also in development...ADX50938, which also acts on mGluR5, is in development for schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease."

Medivation's Dimebon Meets All Five Efficacy Endpoints in Phase 2 Alzheimer's Disease Study

Medivation's Dimebon Meets All Five Efficacy Endpoints in Phase 2 Alzheimer's Disease Study: "Medivation, Inc. (AMEX:MDV) today announced that its proprietary drug Dimebon(TM) met all five efficacy endpoints in a six-month randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled Phase 2 clinical study of 183 patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease conducted at 11 sites in Russia"

TTP4488 Phase II Trial company gets funding

WRAL Local Tech Wire: business, technology, biotechnology, and venture capital news from across the southeastern region: "Privately held TransTech Pharma has landed a drug development deal worth at least $155 million with Pfizer.

Pfizer is also pumping $18 million into TransTech for expansion of its drug research capabilities.

The two companies are teaming up to pursue development of TransTech compounds that could combat Alzheimer’s disease.

TransTech’s TTP488 compound is currently being tested in a Phase II clinical study of Alzheimer’s patients. Its TTP4000 compound is expected to enter clinical trial before the end of 2006."

MX-4509

MIGENIX Reports First Quarter Fiscal Year 2007 Financial Results: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance: "The decrease in clinical program development costs from Q1/06 to Q1/07 was primarily due to a decrease in MX-4509 program costs resulting from the Q1/06 decision to pursue potential orphan indications, and not proceeding with a planned phase I/II trial in Alzheimer's patients. "

AZD-103

CNW Group: "Positive Results Released from Canadian Phase I Clinical Trial of AZD-103 showed that AZD-103 has a favourable pharmacokinetic profile and preliminary safety data indicated that AZD-103 was well tolerated and no safety concerns or significant adverse events were observed in the study."

Evotec Discontinues EVT 301 Development Programme: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance

Evotec Discontinues EVT 301 Development Programme: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance: "Evotec AG (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: EVT, TecDAX 30) today reported that during the one month safety and tolerability study with EVT 301 in young and elderly volunteers, several cases of asymptomatic elevated liver function tests in the elderly group have been observed. All cases reversed spontaneously. No cases of elevated liver function tests were observed within the young healthy volunteer group."

Presenilins may control calcium balance

The Hindu News Update Service: "According to a press release from EurekAlert, the researchers found that two genes mutated in familial Alzheimer's disease known as presenilins may control the balance of calcium within cells by acting as a calcium channel."

CNW Group

CNW Group: "NeuroMedix Inc. ('NeuroMedix') (TSXV: NMX) today announced that it has completed maximum tolerated dose ('MTD') studies in two species of animals for Minozac, its lead drug candidate for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The MTD studies were completed in two species of animal and have defined the MTD of the compound based on oral dosing to be in excess of 40 times the therapeutic dose used in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. The results demonstrate that Minozac has no obvious side-effects that might limit its therapeutic use in human patients. The MTD results will be used to select a starting dose for longer-term 28-day repeat dose studies as well as in additional safety pharmacology studies."

Natural Protective Mechanism Against Neuronal Death In Alzheimer's Found

Natural Protective Mechanism Against Neuronal Death In Alzheimer's Found: "Researchers have uncovered what appears to be a natural protective mechanism against a central cause of neuronal death in Alzheimer's and similar neurodegenerative diseases. They theorize that it may be possible to use drugs to enhance that mechanism, to alleviate Alzheimer's pathology....Basically, in studies with mice, flies, and brain tissue from human patients, they discovered that the enzyme puromycin-sensitive aminopeptidase (PSA) snips apart the abnormal tangles of protein called tau that are associated with cognitive decline and neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's and similar "tauopathy" diseases."

Lexicon Genetics Initiates Phase 1 Clinical Trial Of LX6171 For Cognitive Disorders

Lexicon Genetics Initiates Phase 1 Clinical Trial Of LX6171 For Cognitive Disorders: "Lexicon Genetics Incorporated (Nasdaq: LEXG) announced today that it has initiated a Phase 1 clinical trial for LX6171, a novel, orally administered small molecule compound for cognitive disorders. The trial initiation follows the clearance in July of Lexicon's Clinical Trial Authorization (CTA) filing for LX6171 by the United Kingdom Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). "

NeuroMedix preparing for phase I Alzheimer's Drug Trial

CNW Group: "NeuroMedix Inc. ('NeuroMedix') (TSXV: NMX) today announced that it has produced its first kilogram-scale batch of clinical grade cGMP (current Good Manufacturing Practice) Minozac for late stage pre-clinical toxicology studies and for human safety Phase I studies."

The company expects to submit a regulatory filing for the initiation of a trial by the end of 2006.

PipelineReview.com | Business Intelligence Center - Allon begins dosing for AL-108 Phase Ib clinical trial

PipelineReview.com | Business Intelligence Center - Allon begins dosing for AL-108 Phase Ib clinical trial: "Allon Therapeutics Inc. announced it has begun dosing in a Phase Ib human clinical trial evaluating the Company’s product AL-108 as a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. "

Skin test may help detect early Alzheimer's

Skin test may help detect early Alzheimer's: "According to scientists at the Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute (BRNI), substances in skin cells may provide doctors with a quick and accurate yes-or-no answer when they suspect a patient is showing early signs of the disease."

Myriad Genetics Completes Enrollment in U.S. Phase 3 Clinical Trial of Flurizan for Alzheimer's Disease:

Myriad Genetics Completes Enrollment in U.S. Phase 3 Clinical Trial of Flurizan for Alzheimer's Disease: "Myriad Genetics, Inc. announced today that it has completed enrollment in its U.S. Phase 3 clinical trial of Flurizan™ for patients with Alzheimer's disease. "

New Results Published on Pharmexa's Padre Epitope in Alzheimer's Vaccine

PharmaLive: New Results Published on Pharmexa's Padre Epitope in Alzheimer's Vaccine: "A group of scientists from the Institute of Molecular Medicine at Huntington Beach (California) and the Institute of Brain Aging and Dementia at the University of California has published new pre-clinical data on an experimental Alzheimer's vaccine incorporating Pharmexa's proprietary PADRE� epitope. The results are published in the recent edition of Vaccine (vol. 24, 2275-2282)"

Salt Lake Tribune - Alzheimer's drug goes to final testing

Salt Lake Tribune - Alzheimer's drug goes to final testing: "That performance came despite a 52 percent increase in research and development costs, to $24.3 million. The bulk of that spending was for Flurizan, which the company also announced Tuesday had completed enrollment for Phase 3 testing.
In all, 1,600 patients will participate in an 18-month national study. That trial could be cut back to a year if results are exceptionally positive, after which an application for approval by the Food and Drug Administration could be filed."

Accera Raises $7.5M

Accera Raises $7.5M: "Broomfield, Colorado-based Accera has raised $7.5M in a Series B round, the firm said Wednesday. Accera is developing drugs focused on treating Alzheimer's disease and related neurodegenerative diseases."

CNW Group

CNW Group: "Transition Therapeutics Inc. ('Transition') (TSX: TTH), announced today the results from a phase I clinical trial of its lead Alzheimer's disease drug product AZD-103. Thirteen healthy volunteers were dosed in the study to evaluate the pharmacokinetics, safety and tolerability of a single ascending dose of AZD-103. The study showed that AZD-103 has a favourable pharmacokinetic profile that supports the targeted therapeutic dosing levels for AZD-103."

Evotec's Alzheimer's drug OK in phase 1

Evotec's Alzheimer's drug OK in phase 1: "U.S. firm Evotec said Tuesday EVT 101, a potential treatment for Alzheimer's disease, looked promising in a phase 1 trial."

Pharmaceutical Processing

Pharmaceutical Processing: "Transition Therapeutics Inc. has received clearance from the FDA to initiate a Phase I clinical trial for its lead Alzheimer's drug product, AZD-103. The AZD-103 compound is a possible disease-modifying therapeutic drug candidate for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. This unique class of drug candidates may provide significant advantages over the current therapies on the market."

PharmaLive: Pharmexa Discontinues Phase II Trial of Breast Cancer Vaccine

PharmaLive: Pharmexa Discontinues Phase II Trial of Breast Cancer Vaccine: "Pharmexa has outlicensed an AutoVac(TM) program aimed at Alzheimer's disease to H. Lundbeck (PX 106), as well as a DNA version of the HER-2 AutoVac(TM) vaccine (PX 103.2) to Bavarian Nordic, both of which will continue to be supported according to the agreements."

Neurochem CEO: Odds Of Kiacta Approval 'Much Higher' - Forbes.com

Neurochem CEO: Odds Of Kiacta Approval 'Much Higher': "Neurochem's late-stage drug candidate Alzhemed remains the main focus for investors. Preliminary Phase III trial data for the experimental Alzheimer's disease treatment is expected in the second quarter of 2007.
'At a current market cap of $366 million, we believe the Street is only giving Alzhemed a one-in-four probability of approval,' said CIBC's Lian. 'We believe the drug is disproportionately discounted at these levels.'"

New roles for old medications�-

New roles for old medications� "Neil Buckholtz, chief of the Dementias of Aging Branch of the National Institute on Aging, said findings from some small studies suggest that a drug approved for control of blood sugar in diabetes (Avandia), as well as statin drugs known to lower cholesterol 'show promise' as potential treatments for Alzheimer's patients. "

D-Pharm Completes Enrollment for the Phase IIb trial of DP-b99 in Acute Stroke Patients

D-Pharm Completes Enrollment for the Phase IIb trial of DP-b99 in Acute Stroke Patients: "D-Pharm announced today completion of enrollment in its Phase IIb clinical trial of DP-b99. DP-b99 is a unique neuroprotective drug that addresses the array of damaging processes occurring in the brains of stroke patients. The Phase IIb trial results are expected to be available towards the end of 2006 following completion of the 3 month follow-up period."

Lexicon gets OK to start test of Alzheimer's drug

Chron.com | Lexicon gets OK to start test of Alzheimer's drug: "British authorities have given Lexicon Genetics permission to begin its first human trial of a therapy that it developed. The drug is intended to treat Alzheimer's and other cognitive disorders."

Transition Gets Go-Ahead for Clinical Trials of Alzheimer's Drug | INS News

Transition Gets Go-Ahead for Clinical Trials of Alzheimer's Drug: "Transition Therapeutics has received clearance from the FDA to initiate a phase I clinical trial for its lead Alzheimer's drug product, AZD-103."

Allon Files CTA to Add Canadian Sites to Phase II Clinical Trial

Allon Files CTA to Add Canadian Sites to Phase II Clinical Trial: "Allon Therapeutics Inc. (TSX:NPC), The Neuro Protection CompanyTM, today announced that it has filed a Clinical Trial Application (CTA) with Health Canada to gain approval to begin recruiting Canadian patients into its ongoing Phase II human clinical trial evaluating the Company's product AL-208 as a treatment for the mild cognitive impairment that commonly occurs following coronary artery bypass graft (MCI post-CABG) surgery."

BTG completes early Alzheimers trial says started yr in strong position

BTG completes early Alzheimers trial says started yr in strong position: "Medical innovations group BTG PLC said it has successfully completed a phase I trial of BGC20-1259, a treatment for Alzheimer's, and that a follow on trial will start once regulatory approval is granted. "

TorreyPines Therapeutics Completes Second Phase I Study for NGX267, a Selective M1 Agonist for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease

TorreyPines Therapeutics Completes Second Phase I Study for NGX267, a Selective M1 Agonist for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease: "TorreyPines Therapeutics, Inc. today announced completion of its second Phase I study with NGX267 in clinical development for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. This study evaluated the safety of NGX267 in healthy elderly volunteers. In a previous Phase I study, NGX267, administered as single doses, was shown to be well-tolerated in healthy, younger adult males. NGX267, a selective cholinergic muscarinic, or M1, receptor agonist, has demonstrated potential in providing both symptomatic improvement and disease modification in animal models of Alzheimer's disease."

GnRH Gets Renewed Chance for Alzheimer's Patients

GnRH Gets Renewed Chance for Alzheimer's Patients: "When it comes to therapy for Alzheimer's disease, if a phase II trial isn't all that's expected, try a phase III.

That seems to be the philosophy of Voyager Pharmaceutical of Raleigh, N.C., which reported at the International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders here that it is moving ahead with phase III trials of a proprietary formulation of leuprolide, the GnRH analog, despite mixed findings in a phase II clinical trial for Alzheimer's."

New hope for Alzheimer's cure

New hope for Alzheimer's cure: "Melbourne scientists have developed a once-a-day pill (PBT2) that they claim may cure Alzheimer's disease. Human trials of the drug start next month.

Study finds antibodies seem to stop Alzheimer's

Chron.com | Study finds antibodies seem to stop Alzheimer's: "Treatment with antibodies naturally produced in the body appears to halt the memory-robbing progression of Alzheimer's disease, according to promising early research that scientists plan to expand over the next year.

Scientists from Cornell University's medical school reported that...the antibodies — a treatment already in use for multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases — stopped or slightly reversed the disease in six of eight patients participating in an 18-month clinical trial.

On the basis of these early results, a larger Phase 2 trial with 24 patients already has begun.

Myriad's 24-Month Study of Flurizan Demonstrates Significant Benefit in Alzheimer's Disease Patients

Myriad's 24-Month Study of Flurizan Demonstrates Significant Benefit in Alzheimer's Disease Patients: "Myriad Genetics, Inc. (Nasdaq: MYGN) (http://www.myriad.com) announced today that results of its completed Phase 2 follow-on study of Flurizan(TM) in patients with mild Alzheimer's disease were presented at the 10th International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders, in Madrid, Spain, by Dr. Gordon Wilcock, Professor of Clinical Gerontology, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, and lead investigator for the Phase 2 trial. The data suggest that study participants taking 800 mg BID of Flurizan demonstrated a substantial benefit over other dose groups in the study and that this benefit continued to increase over 24 months, for each of the evaluated areas of cognition, memory loss, global function and activities of daily living."

Eye test 'could spot Alzheimer's'

Eye test 'could spot Alzheimer's': "Early dementia could be detected with a simple eye test, similar to those used to test for high blood pressure and diabetes, US scientists believe.

The test, developed by a team led by Dr Lee Goldstein, of Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, uses a non-invasive laser to study the lens of the eye.

It checks for deposits of beta-amyloid - the protein found in the brains of those with Alzheimer's disease."

New hope for women with Alzheimer's disease

New hope for women with Alzheimer's disease: "Leuprolide acetate helps women with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease maintain functional capabilities for a longer period of time, according to data presented Monday by Voyager Pharmaceutical Corporation."

Leuprolide Acetate Maintains Functional Capabilities In Women With Alzheimer's Disease

Leuprolide Acetate Maintains Functional Capabilities In Women With Alzheimer's Disease: "Women with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease who are treated with the investigational hormone drug leuprolide acetate and conventional therapy with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEI) seem to maintain their cognitive and physical function longer than women treated with AChEI therapy alone, according to phase II results released at the Tenth International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders (ICAD). "

Cumulative Research Indicates Huperzine A Offers Potential Advantages Over AChE Inhibitors Used in U.S. to Treat Alzheimer's, Neuro-Hite

Cumulative Research Indicates Huperzine A Offers Potential Advantages Over AChE Inhibitors Used in U.S. to Treat Alzheimer's, Neuro-Hitech Study Finds: "umulative research on the development of huperzine A -- an alkaloid extract of the plant Huperzia serrata -- as a treatment for Alzheimer's shows it may have advantages over other AChE inhibitors being used in the U.S. to treat Alzheimer's Disease (AD), according to early results in a new study from Neuro-Hitech (OTCBB: NHPI),"

A phase II study is currently underway.

Utah test drug on Alzheimer's hailed

Utah test drug on Alzheimer's hailed: "At a conference in Spain Monday, MUSC researchers said that Flurizan, an investigational drug from Myriad Genetics of Salt Lake City, seems to reduce the frequency of serious psychiatric events associated with Alzheimer's disease. "

Astellas gives up development of Alzheimer's drug

Astellas gives up development of Alzheimer's drug: "Astellas Pharma Inc. (4503.T: Quote, Profile, Research), Japan's third-biggest drug maker, said on Tuesday it has given up development of its Alzheimer's disease treatment FK962 due to a lack of clear evidence of efficacy from clinical trial data.

The drug had been in Phase II clinical trials in the United States."

Flurizan Phase II Trial Update

Easy bourse - NEWS: "Myriad Genetics Inc.'s (MYGN) Flurizan drug 'significantly' reduced the number of psychiatric events Alzheimer's patients experienced by 60%, according to a Phase II trial conducted by the Medical University of South Carolina. "

Diabetes treatments may help Alzheimers�|�Reuters.com

Diabetes treatments may help Alzheimers�|�Reuters.com: "Diabetes and pre-diabetic conditions appear to worsen the risk of Alzheimer's disease but drugs that help regulate blood sugar may help patients with dementia as well, researchers report."

Allon's Compound Shows Effect on Both Classic Hallmarks of Alzheimer's

Allon's Compound Shows Effect on Both Classic Hallmarks of Alzheimer's: "The Neuro Protection CompanyTM, announced today that the Company's proprietary compound NAP has been shown in preclinical studies to be effective in reducing both amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain, two pathologies most closely correlated with Alzheimer's disease in humans. "

Athenagen and Zapaq to Merge: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance

Athenagen and Zapaq to Merge: "- Athenagen, Inc. and Zapaq, Inc., both privately held biopharmaceutical companies, said today that they have signed a letter of intent to merge the two companies. The companies both have leading programs focused on neurological diseases, including several proprietary compounds targeting Alzheimer's disease. The merger is expected to be completed before the end of August."

Genetic Engineering News Reports on Neurobiotechnology Developments

Genetic Engineering News Reports on Neurobiotechnology Developments: "Biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies view the brain as the number-one target for drug development over the next decade, reports Genetic Engineering News (GEN; www.genengnews.com). Numerous public and private companies are developing novel therapeutics for Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, stroke, epilepsy, pain, depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, obesity, hearing loss, and sleep disorders, according to the July issue of GEN."

The press release notes that Targacept is targeting specific NNR subtypes, and Saegis is developing drugs including SGS742 for cognition-enhancement.

Using PET scans to discover early signs of Alzheimer's

The June 27, 2006 edition of of the Wall Street Journal had an article on page D2 by Laura Johannes about using PET scans to get an early diagnosis of AD. It says, "Neurologists say PET is an excellent tool for distinguishing between Alzheimer's and frontotemporal dementia, which can look similar in the early stages but progress differently."

Doctors are less enthusiastic about using PET scans to diagnose people who only have mild memory problems. It sounds like it gives a lot of false positives. A study investigating its usefulness as a diagnostic tool is under way.

Lexicon Genetics Files Application For LX6171 Phase 1 Trial For Cognitive Disorders

Lexicon Genetics Files Application For LX6171 Phase 1 Trial For Cognitive Disorders: "Lexicon Genetics Incorporated (Nasdaq: LEXG) announced today that it has submitted a Clinical Trial Authorization (CTA) filing to the United Kingdom Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for LX6171, an internally- developed small molecule compound for cognitive disorders."

Lexicon's LX5171

LX5171: "Thursday, Lexicon Genetics Inc. (a pharmaceutical utility of genes, said it filed a clinical trial authorization for LX6171 with the United Kingdom Medicines and healthcare products regulatory agency or MHRA. The company disclosed that the LX6171 is a small molecule compound for the treatment of cognitive disorders. Lexicon said it expects to develop the LX6171 for the treatment of cognitive disorders including Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, vascular dementia, attention deficit disorder and fragile X syndrome."

Athenagen Announces Publication of Results From a Proof-of-Concept Trial of Its Novel alpha-7 Nicotinic Receptor Agonist in Schizophrenia: Financial N

Athenagen Announces Publication of Results From a Proof-of-Concept Trial of Its Novel alpha-7 Nicotinic Receptor Agonist in Schizophrenia: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance: "'We are encouraged by these data demonstrating utility of GTS-21 for cognition enhancement in schizophrenia,' stated Henry Hsu, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Athenagen. 'Taken together with Phase 1 data demonstrating safety and also cognition enhancement in healthy volunteers, we intend to further study GTS-21 in diseases associated with cognitive deficiency, such as Alzheimer's disease, Mild Cognitive Impairment, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.'"

New test could help answer questions about Alzheimer's

AP Wire | 06/25/2006 | New amyloid beta test could help answer questions about Alzheimer's: Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis just published a study in the journal Nature showing for the first time that amyloid beta is rapidly produced and cleard. A surprising result given that it is a key protein associated with the development of AD, and that the disease takes so long to develop. They intend to use this new amyloid beta test to monitor protein levels for research. It was unclear whether the test would be useful for diagnosis, but it seems unlikely, at least for the immediate future, since the findings are that amyloid beta isn't behaving as researchers thought it would.

Athenagen Advances Angiogenesis Drug to Clinical Testing

Athenagen Advances Angiogenesis Drug to Clinical Testing: "and our Phase II compound, GTS-21, targeting Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia."

Renewed Hopes for Beta-Amyloid Vaccine to Treat Alzheimer's

Science & Technology at Scientific American.com: Renewed Hopes for Vaccine to Treat Alzheimer's: "After just four months of biweekly injections, mice in the preventative group had as much as 30 percent less beta-amyloid buildup than untreated controls had; after a year, up to 50 percent less. 'The final reduction rate of beta amyloid burden in the cerebral cortex at 18 months of age was roughly 38.5 percent of untreated groups,' the team writes in their report, published online this week by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences."

Renewed Hopes for Beta-Amyloid Vaccine to Treat Alzheimer's

Science & Technology at Scientific American.com: Renewed Hopes for Vaccine to Treat Alzheimer's: "After just four months of biweekly injections, mice in the preventative group had as much as 30 percent less beta-amyloid buildup than untreated controls had; after a year, up to 50 percent less. 'The final reduction rate of beta amyloid burden in the cerebral cortex at 18 months of age was roughly 38.5 percent of untreated groups,' the team writes in their report, published online this week by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences."

Chinese Moss Extract Tested as Alzheimer's Drug - Forbes.com

Chinese Moss Extract Tested as Alzheimer's Drug - Forbes.com: "Can a compound derived from the Chinese club moss Huperzia serrata improve brain function in Alzheimer's patients?

That's a question U.S. researchers hope to answer as they recruit participants for a new clinical trial on the compound, called huperzine A, from 28 sites across the country.

The Phase II clinical trial to determine the safety and efficacy of huperzine A will enroll about 150 patients, age 55 and older, with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. Huperzine A is a naturally occurring cholinesterase inhibitor that's commonly used in China to treat Alzheimer's."

Axonyx and TorreyPines Therapeutics Announce Merger Agreement; Transaction Creates Robust Portfolio in the CNS Disease Area

Breaking News: Axonyx and TorreyPines Therapeutics Announce Merger Agreement; Transaction Creates Robust Portfolio in the CNS Disease Area: "Axonyx Inc. and TorreyPines Therapeutics, Inc., a private company, today announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement."

Pharma response to Alzheimer's drug ruling

Independent Online Edition > Business News: "Executives from five rival pharmaceutical companies will meet at the offices of a City law firm tomorrow to thrash out their response to a (UK) government decision to deny Alzheimer's drugs to thousands of patients."

FoldRx Pharmaceuticals lands $43M in second round

FoldRx Pharmaceuticals lands $43M in second round:: "FoldRx Pharmaceuticals Inc. has landed $43 million in second-round venture financing to help fuel continued clinical trials.

FoldRx, which is based in Cambridge (MA), raised an initial $16 million round in December 2004. The latest round will help support clinical trials for its lead drug compound, Fx-1006A, which is finishing an early-stage or Phase I trial to treat diseases of protein misfolding in the brain or heart."

Tramiprosate (Alzhemed™) preclinical results

Tramiprosate (Alzhemed™) preclinical results published in Neurobiology of Aging: "Neurochem Inc. is pleased to announce that Neurobiology of Aging...has published an online version of a publication on the preclinical development of tramiprosate (3-amino-1-propanesulfonic acid; Alzhemed™), including efficacy results in a mouse model of brain amyloidosis...The results presented in this paper include the amyloid binding and neuroprotective characteristics of tramiprosate (Alzhemed™) and provide evidence for the potential disease-modifying effect of this product candidate to slow or arrest the progression of AD."

Daytrading, Eminis, Forex trading, Swing Trading BREAKING NEWS - 270482

MEM 3454 Delayed: "On Thursday, Memory Pharmaceuticals Corp. a drug developer for disorder of the central nervous system, said that the commencement of its Phase 2a clinical trial of MEM 3454, the Company's lead nicotinic alpha-7 receptor partial agonist, in Alzheimer's disease, has been delayed. The delay has occurred owing to a feedback from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, raising its concern over the potential impurities in the clinical material that the company proposed to use in the Phase 2a trial. The trial, which was anticipated to begin in June 2006, has been postponed to later this year."

Allon Begins Enrolment for AL-208 Phase II Clinical Trial

Allon Begins Enrolment fo