YUMA THERAPEUTICS AWARDED A RESEARCH GRANT BY THE ALZHEIMER’S DRUG DISCOVERY FOUNDATION TO DEVELOP NOVEL THERAPEUTICS FOR ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

March 28, 2011 – The Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) announced that it has awarded a grant of $249,810 to Yuma Therapeutics Corporation (Yuma) to develop small molecules to treat Alzheimer’s disease.
The award will fund work to develop Yuma’s innovative disease-modifying pharmaceutical compounds that target neurofibrillary tangles resulting from abnormal forms of the protein tau, which represents a promising new approach with potential to affect disease progression in Alzheimer’s disease... [PDF] Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation's Press Release -

Axxam : Research Grant by the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation to develop Novel Therapeutics for Alzheimer’s Disease

June, 22nd 2011 - Axxam awarded a Research Grant by the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation to develop Novel Therapeutics for Alzheimer’s Disease
The Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) and Axxam SpA entered a collaboration to develop small molecules to treat Alzheimer’s disease by targeting inflammation.
Under the terms of this agreement, Axxam will screen its extensive chemical library to identify compounds that block the puringeric receptor, P2X7, which is involved in inflammation in the brain.
One of the characteristic features of Alzheimer’s disease is a robust inflammatory response involving over-activation of specialized brain cells called microglia and the release of pro-inflammatory signals associated with the deposition of Alzheimer’s disease plaques in the brain. These pro-inflammatory signals are closely associated with the P2X7 receptor, putting this novel target at the heart of brain inflammation.
Compounds that block P2X7 may treat brain inflammation and can potentially be useful in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases... [PDF] Axxam's Press Release -

Clarimedix : Treatment Targets Alzheimer's Symptoms with Non-Invasive, Non-Drug Device

March 7, 2011 - Clarimedix presents non-drug, non-invasive technology findings at International AD/PD Conference - Clarimedix Inc., ...results of recently completed animal studies on its groundbreaking, non-invasive treatment of Alzheimer's disease at the International Conference of the AD/PD (Alzheimer's Disease/Parkinson's Disease) Conference in Barcelona on March 9.
"We will describe how our technology is paving the way for what we believe will make Alzheimer's a controllable and treatable disease," says John Dunning, CEO and president of Clarimedix. "This has the potential to revolutionize Alzheimer's treatment options for patients and families."
The Clarimedix technology is a light-based medical device in the form of a flexible patch that is applied to the skin over the carotid artery. Using a proprietary wavelength and duration of light developed by Clarimedix, the device emits light through the skin and tissue down to the carotid artery. It then triggers targeted, localized and controllable production of nitric oxide, a well-known vasodilator and neurotransmitter capable of increasing blood flow, reducing inflammation and triggering gene expression changes in the brain...Clarimedix : recent news -

Mylan : Approval for Generic Version of Aricept® Tablets

June 7, 2011 - Mylan Inc. (Nasdaq: MYL) announced that its subsidiary Matrix Laboratories Limited has received final approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for Donepezil Hydrochloride (HCl) Tablets, 5 mg and 10 mg, the generic version of Eisai's Aricept® Tablets, which are used to treat dementia associated with Alzheimer's disease.

Donepezil HCl Tablets had U.S. sales of approximately $2.3 billion for the 12 months ending March 31, 2011, according to IMS Health. Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc. is launching this product immediately.



Currently, Mylan has 164 ANDAs pending FDA approval representing $95.6 billion in annual sales, according to IMS Health. Forty-five of these pending ANDAs are potential first-to-file opportunities, representing $25.8 billion in annual brand sales, for the 12 months ending Dec. 31, 2010, according to IMS Health... Mylan's Press Release -

Prana Biotechnology secures key PBT2 patent in Japan and completes core IP suite

April 11th, 2011 - Patents support pipeline opportunities for PBT2 in AD and HD - Prana Biotechnology (ASX: PBT; NASDAQ: PRAN) announced that it has secured a key PBT2 patent in Japan. The Japanese Patent Office has granted a composition of matter patent for Prana’slead clinical asset, PBT2 and other selected 8-Hydroxyquinoline compounds in Japan. The patent entitled ‘8-Hydroxyquinoline derivatives’ also covers pharmaceutical compositions containing PBT2 and selected 8-hydroxyquinoline compounds and the use of the compounds for the treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease.
Geoffrey Kempler, Prana’s Executive Chairman, said “This decision by the Japanese Officeto grant a claim to PBT2 completes a suite of core patent rights protecting this asset in key markets including the United States, Europe, Japan and Australia, further bolstering our commercialization plans in both Huntington’s and Alzheimer’s Disease”.
The Japanese patent has a twenty year term expiring on 16 July 2023, with a possible extension of term of up to 5 years under pharmaceutical protectionprovisions. Importantly there is no post-grant opposition process in Japan whereby third parties can register objections following this decision. In 2010, the company announced the grant of similar claims in Europe and the decision of the United States Patent Office to extend the term of the patent granted in the United States**.
PBT2 was selected from Prana’s Metal Protein Attenuating Compound (MPAC) library as its lead development compound in Alzheimer’s Disease in 2004... [PDF] Prana’s Press Release -

AB Science : Masitinib as an Adjunct Therapy for Alzheimer’s Disease

19 April 2011 - Publication in Alzheimer’s Research and Therapy - AB Science SA (NYSE Euronext - FR0010557264 - AB), a pharmaceutical company specializing in the research, development and commercialization of protein kinase inhibitors (PKIs), announces the publication of results from the first human phase 2 study of masitinib carried-out in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Entitled, ‘Masitinib as an adjunct therapy for mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease: a randomised, placebo-controlled phase 2 trial’, this article is freely accessible online from BioMed Central's peer-reviewed journal Alzheimer’s Research and Therapy .

• Phase 2 study establishes proof-of-concept that oral masitinib has potential therapeutic benefits in patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease
• Overall, results add new scientific data to the important question of the potential role of anti inflammatory agents in the management of Alzheimer’s disease
• AB Science is actively preparing to launch a phase 3 study, pivotal in the process of registration of masitinib in this indication

This randomized placebo-controlled phase 2 trial, conducted by Professor François Piette (Hôpital Charles Foix in Ivry-sur-Seine) and colleagues from 12 study centers across France, investigated the hypothesis that masitinib’s targeted inhibitory action on mast cells may reduce the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. A total of 35 patients were included in this study. Neuroinflammation is thought to be important in Alzheimer’s disease pathogenesis. Mast cells are a key component of the inflammatory network and participate in the regulation of the blood-brain barrier’s permeability. Masitinib, a selective oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor, effectively inhibits the survival, migration and activity of mast cells... [PDF] AB Science's Press Release -

StemCells, Inc. Advances Alzheimer's Disease Program Through Collaboration With Leading Researcher

Apr 18, 2011 - StemCells, Inc. (Nasdaq:STEM) announced that it has entered into a collaboration with Frank LaFerla, Ph.D., a world renowned leader in Alzheimer's disease research, to study the therapeutic potential of the Company's HuCNS-SC(R) human neural stem cells in Alzheimer's disease. Dr. LaFerla's published research has shown that mouse neural stem cells enhance memory in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. The goal of this collaboration is to replicate these results using the Company's human neural stem cells.

"This collaboration is a natural evolution of Dr. LaFerla's pioneering research, and will build on the promising results we have seen to date in other preclinical studies of our cells in Alzheimer's disease," said Stephen Huhn, MD, FACS, FAAP, Vice President and Head of the CNS Program at StemCells, Inc. "Our growing human clinical database already includes a favorable safety profile in fatal neurodegenerative disorders as well as proof of engraftment of our HuCNS-SC cells in the brain. Consequently, we will be well positioned for rapid advancement into clinical testing in Alzheimer's disease following successful results from this research collaboration."... StemCells' Press Release -

Quanterix Discovers Link Between Heart Attack–induced Hypoxia and Suspected Alzheimer’s Disease Pathway

April 12, 2011 - Single Molecule Technology First to Detect Increase in Alzheimer’s Disease Plaque Peptide Following Cardiac Arrest – Quanterix Corporation, enabling a new generation of diagnostics based on revolutionary Single Molecule Array (SiMoA™) technology, announced that significant elevations in blood levels of amyloid beta (Aβ) 42 peptide, a component of the plaques that are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease, were detected in patients who experienced hypoxia (inadequate supply of oxygen to the brain) following cardiac arrest. The ability of SiMoA to measure extremely low abundance proteins has enabled discovery of a direct link between brain injury caused by hypoxia and increased Aβ42 levels in blood. Results were presented on April 12 at the American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting April 9–16 in Honolulu, Hawaii.

The Aβ42 testing was conducted at Quanterix on serum samples obtained from 26 resuscitated patients who were admitted to the Department of Surgical Sciences, Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. In the study, all 26 patients exhibited a significant elevation of Aβ42 ranging from approximately 50% to over 30–fold. "These data are the first to show a correlation between hypoxic stress and the upregulation of Aβ42 in humans. The findings also indicate that Aβ42 levels after cardiac arrest correlate with long term cognitive outcome. The study highlights the potential of SiMoA to illuminate disease pathways involving proteins present at previously undetectable levels." said David Wilson, Ph.D., Senior Director, Product Development at Quanterix and lead author of the study... Quanterix's Press Release -