Prana : PNAS Publication Describing New Class of Anti-Amyloid Drugs

May 13, 2008 - Prana Biotechnology Limited (NASDAQ: PRAN / ASX: PBT), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the research and development of treatments for neurodegenerative disorders, announced a publication in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) journal, *describing a completely new class of amyloid inhibiting drugs.
The reported drugs are directed against the amyloid present in Alzheimer’s Disease, composed of the Abeta protein. By specifically targeting and blocking the metal binding site on the Abeta protein, these drugs change the intrinsic structural properties of Abeta and its oligomers, stopping neuronal toxicity and the subsequent formation of ABeta fibrils... Prana Biotechnology's Press Release -

Applied NeuroSolutions : P-Tau 231 Test for Use in Alzheimer's Disease Clinical Trials

May 13, 2008 – Applied NeuroSolutions, Inc. (OTC BB:APNS), a company focused on the development of products for the early diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (“AD”), announced an initiative to provide its P-Tau 231 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) test to companies undertaking AD clinical trials. Potential customers, which include pharmaceutical, biotechnology and imaging companies, may use the P-Tau 231 test to aid in screening patients for clinical trials and to track P-Tau 231 levels pre- and post-drug treatment. Applied NeuroSolutions has identified over 50 companies with 100 plus compounds in active clinical development for AD. Revenue generated from providing this service would help support the further development of Applied NeuroSolutions’s diagnostic pipeline, with a goal of delivering a serum-based test for the early diagnosis of AD... Applied NeuroSolutions' Press release -

Lundbeck : European commercialization rights for Flurizan® from Myriad, USA - a new drug in final phase III development for the treatment of Alzheimer

22-05-2008 - H. Lundbeck A/S and Myriad Genetics, Inc. announced that Lundbeck has acquired European commercialization rights to Myriad's Flurizan® (tarenflurbil). Flurizan® might have the potential to delay disability in patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease.
Myriad and Lundbeck have entered into a European commercialization agreement under which Lundbeck will have rights to market and sell Flurizan® in the European Union and several associated non-EU countries and will manage the regulatory process.

Lundbeck has agreed to pay Myriad an initial USD 100 million and will pay up to USD 250 million in connection with regulatory approvals. Furthermore, Lundbeck has agreed to pay attractive commercialization milestones and will purchase bulk pharmaceutical material from Myriad.
Lundbeck has also agreed to pay escalating royalties of 20 - 39% on sales less the amount paid for the bulk drug... Lundbeck's Press Release -

Astellas and CoMentis : Agreement to Collaborate on the Research, Development and Commercialization of Beta-Secretase Inhibitors

April 25, 2008 – Astellas Pharma, Inc. and CoMentis, Inc. announced today that the companies have entered into an exclusive worldwide collaboration agreement to develop and commercialize products from CoMentis’ beta-secretase inhibitor program, including CoMentis’ lead candidate compound CTS-21166, an orally bioavailable, small-molecule beta-secretase inhibitor which is being developed as a disease-modifying treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. The agreement also includes a research collaboration to develop additional beta-secretase inhibitors... CoMentis' Press Release - [PDF] Astellas Pharma's Press Release -

Pipex Pharmaceuticals : Notice of Allowance of U.S. Patent for Oral TTM for Alzheimer’s Disease

May 7, 2008 -- Pipex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AMEX: PP), a specialty pharmaceutical company developing innovative late-stage drug candidates for the treatment of neurologic and autoimmune diseases, announced today that it has received a notice of allowance from the United States Patent and Trademark Office for exclusively licensed U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/057.353 containing claims covering the use of thiomolybdates such as oral tetrathiomolybdate (oral TTM) for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD)... Pipex Pharmaceuticals' Press Release -

Memory Pharmaceuticals' Nicotinic Alpha-7 Agonist, MEM 3454 : Roche Exercises its Option to Further Develop and Commercialize it

May 2, 2008- Memory Pharmaceuticals Corp. (Nasdaq: MEMY) and Roche (SWX: ROG) announced that Roche has exercised its option to further develop and commercialize Memory Pharmaceuticals' lead nicotinic alpha-7 agonist drug candidate, MEM 3454, for neurological and psychiatric disorders. Roche's exercise of its option for MEM 3454 triggers a $6 million milestone payment and entitles Memory Pharmaceuticals to future payments upon the achievement of additional milestones and royalties on product sales, including a $17 million milestone payment upon the completion of the ongoing Phase 2a study in cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia (CIAS).
In addition, Memory Pharmaceuticals retains an option to co-promote MEM 3454 in the United States... Memory Pharmaceuticals' Press Release -