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Thursday, May 27, 2010

Senexis : NEXT-GENERATION DISEASE-MODIFYING DRUGS FOR ALZHEIMER’S ENTER PRE-CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT

Senexis25th May 2010 - Senexis Limited has identified drug candidates from different and novel chemical series that have shown potential in pre-clinical models, as disease modifying treatments for Alzheimer’s disease. Their success secures the drawdown of further tranche of funding from the Wellcome Trust to support pre-clinical development of the most promising candidates from the SEN1500 series.

Senexis were awarded £2.9 million by the Wellcome Trust, under the Seeding Drug Discovery initiative in 2008, to support selection studies to identify potential drug candidates for pre-clinical development. Successful completion of these studies now triggers the release of funds, enabling Senexis to initiate that planned development and file two further patents to protect this next generation of potentially disease modifying Alzheimer’s drugs.

Using proprietary drug screening technologies, Senexis have identified novel compounds, which target the soluble assemblies of brain proteins that are a toxic form of amyloid. These potential drugs have been selected for their ability to prevent amyloid from aggregating or “clumping together”. The effect of the compounds is to protect against amyloid toxicity, well before the formation of the tell-tale “plaques” that have been used to classify the disease, since the original discoveries of Alois Alzheimer over a century ago... Senexis' Press Release -

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Merz and Acumen Partner in An Innovative Alzheimer's Approch

Acumen PharmaceuticalsJanuary 12, 2010 – Merz has licensed an innovative drug development program and related technology originated by Acumen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. The license provides Merz certain exclusive global drug development, manufacturing and marketing rights in exchange for upfront and milestone payments to Acumen as well as royalties on future product sales. The drug technology is based on Acumen’s pioneering work on the toxic ß-amyloid protein species appearing very early in dementia of the Alzheimer’s type.

Merz
As such, the technology holds great potential in the present quest for a disease-modifying Alzheimer treatment, interfering with the cause, not just the symptoms of one of the most devastating diseases. The development of such an innovative and promising approach therefore complements the successful track record established by Merz’ current anti dementia blockbuster drug, Memantine... [PDF] Acumen Pharmaceuticals' Press Release -

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Martek Biosciences : Study Published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association Shows Algal DHA Improved Memory and...

Martek BiosciencesMay 3, 2010 - The Memory Improvement with Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) Study (MIDAS) published online this week in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association showed that algal DHA improved memory function in healthy aging adults, providing a benefit roughly equivalent to having the learning and memory skills of someone three years younger.

MIDAS is the first large, randomized and placebo-controlled study demonstrating the benefits of algal DHA in maintaining and improving brain health in older adults. The goal of MIDAS was to evaluate the effects of algal DHA on cognitive outcomes in healthy elderly people with a mild memory complaint. The study was funded by Martek Biosciences.

MIDAS found that healthy people with memory complaints who took 900 mg algal DHA capsules for six months had almost double the reduction in errors on a test that measures learning and memory performance versus those who took a placebo, a benefit roughly equivalent to having the learning and memory skills of someone three years younger. The DHA was well-tolerated and subjects taking the DHA also experienced a lower heart rate, providing a significant cardiovascular benefit.

The study population included 485 people 55 and older at 19 U.S. sites who were considered to have age-related cognitive decline. Age-related cognitive decline is defined as decline in cognitive functioning consequent to the aging process that is within normal limits given a person's age. For example, individuals may report problems remembering names or appointments or may experience difficulty solving complex problems.

MIDAS study participants consumed an oral dose of 900 mg per day of algal DHA or a placebo (corn/soy) over the course of six months. The primary endpoint was a cognitive test of memory and learning called the CANTAB Paired Associate Learning (PAL). CANTAB PAL is an assessment of visual memory and new learning, and is a useful tool for assessing patients with age-related memory loss... Martek Biosciences Corporation's Press Release -