Interesting article I read today about a new kind of Alzheimer's drug designed to "hitch-hike" into cells that reverses the signs of Alzheimer's disease when injected into the brains of mice - it may become a potent new treatment for humans according to researchers.
Read the entire article.
Here is a synopsis:
"The compound effectively blocks an enzyme responsible for the build-up of sticky deposits, or plaques, in the brain by attaching to exactly the right spot on the cell wall where the toxic activity takes place. If all goes well, a version could be available for use by patients in five to 10 years, said Kai Simons of the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics in Dresden.
"It's clear that when it is injected into the brain of mice it works," Simons told Reuters. "The next stage is to see if can cross the blood-brain barrier ... if we get it through, it has huge potential."
Alzheimer's is a hot area for pharmaceutical research, since the incidence of the degenerative brain disease is rising rapidly as people live longer. But developing effective treatments has proved notoriously difficult. Existing drugs such as Aricept from Pfizer and Eisai, Exelon by Novartis and Razadyne or Reminyl from Johnson & Johnson and Shire can ease symptoms but do not stop the disease. One new drug that could make a real difference is an experimental antibody-based treatment called bapineuzumab from Wyeth and Elan, which is now in final Phase III clinical tests.
The World Health Organization estimates there are about 18 million people worldwide with Alzheimer's disease and this figure is projected to reach 34 million by 2025."
Interesting article I read today about a new kind of Alzheimer's drug designed to "hitch-hike" into cells that reverses the signs of Alzheimer's disease when injected into the brains of mice - it may become a potent new treatment for humans according to researchers.
Read the entire article.
Here is a synopsis: