Pfizer Bapineuzumab Fails, All Clinical Trials Discontinued

The clinical findings and the decision to discontinue the bapineuzumab IV program in patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease is another setback for the Alzheimer's Community.

Alzheimer's Reading Room

Pfizer Inc. and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) said Monday they are ending development of a drug to treat Alzheimer’s disease after the treatment failed in two late-stage clinical trials.

The companies said bapineuzumab intravenousdid not work better than placebo in the two late-stage clinical trials of patients who had mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease.

"We are obviously very disappointed in the outcomes of this trial. We are also saddened by the lost opportunity to provide a meaningful advance for patients afflicted with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease and their caregivers," Steven Romano, head of Pfizer's Medicines Development Group, said in a statement.

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Lilly (LLY) Alzheimer's Test Approved by FDA

A much-anticipated test developed by Eli Lilly, LLY , that detects the presence of proteins in the brain that are related to Alzheimer's disease was approved Friday by the Food and Drug Administration.

The tool could enable clinicians to detect Alzheimer's earlier and more accurately in patients at the earliest sign of memory problems—a potential boon to treatment and developing drugs against the disease.

The test uses a chemical called florbetapir, known by the brand name Amyvid, which is a radioactive agent that tags clumps of a sticky substance called an amyloid. Amyloid proteins are hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease. The chemical, which costs $1,600 per dose, then is detected using a brain imaging technique called positron emission tomography, known as PET scans.
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Proteome Sciences Up Big On Alzheimer's Test

Proteome Sciences (LON:PRM) is up big today on the markets after announcing success in its project to develop better diagnostic tools for Alzheimer’s disease.

The Company announced that in collaboration with the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health and Merck Millipore, the completion of the large, 1,000 sample Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) biomarker validation study. Preliminary results indicate that these biomarkers have significant potential diagnostic and prognostic utility that could form the basis of a series of simple blood tests for the diagnosis and management of this debilitating disease.

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@AllAmerInvest Silvio Berlusconi, CDS, Bonus Bucks, crisis intensifies, Warren Buffett, Carlos, Alzheimer's

World markets: Italy takes center stage

World markets were choppy Monday following speculation that Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi could be on the verge of resigning.
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Is Medivation's Dimebon a $1.5 Billion Blockbuster Drug ?

Medivation (MDVN) is expected to release the results of its Phase 3 clinical trial of Dimebon in the not to distant future. Dimebon is designed for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.....

By Bob DeMarco

Pfizer Medivation previously announced the Dimebon CONNECTION study results would be released during the first half of 2010.

There is great expectation not only in the Alzheimer's community but amongst investors.

Alzheimer's disease effects more than 5 million people in the United States, and more than 30 million worldwide. These numbers are expected to triple by 2050.

Does Exposure to Cell Phones Reverse Alzheimer's Disease ?

Microwave radiation from cell phones may protect against and even reverse Alzheimer's-like symptoms, according to a new study involving genetically tweaked mice......

By Bob DeMarco

I know this will sound hard to believe but the study found that if cell phone exposure began before genetically engineered mice started showing signs of Alzheimer's, they were less likely to develop symptoms later on in life.

Additionally, the genetically engineered mice that were were exposed to the cell phone radiation after they had already begun to show cognitive deficits generally saw their memory impairment disappear after several months of the radiation exposure.

Go figure.

The millions of people who spend hours every day on a cell phone may have a new excuse for yakking. A surprising new study in mice provides the first evidence that long-term exposure to electromagnetic waves associated with cell phone use may actually protect against, and even reverse, Alzheimer's disease. The study, led by University of South Florida researchers at the Florida Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC), was published today in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.

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Bob DeMarco is the editor of the Alzheimer's Reading Room and an Alzheimer's caregiver. Bob has written more than 1,050 articles with more than 8,000 links on the Internet. Bob resides in Delray Beach, FL.

The Alzheimer's Action Plan: The Experts' Guide to the Best Diagnosis and Treatment for Memory Problems

Original content Bob DeMarco, Alzheimer's Reading Room

Alzheimer's Disease: What is it?

Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of a condition called dementia. It is named for the German doctor who first described it, Alois Alzheimer. What is it? Who gets it? What causes it?

You can read this information and more at the The Caregiver.

 

Information supplied by the Milton S Hershey Medical center and the CareGiver Weblog.