Jefferson neuroscientists studying new type of Alzheimer's drug to halt disease p...( Neuroscientists at the Farber Institute...),Health

Neuroscientists at the Farber Institute for Neurosciences at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia will begin a clinical trial testing a new type of drug that attacks amyloid, the protein substance that accumulates in the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients. The buildup of amyloid and the formation of tangles and plaques in the brain are thought to be major causes of the mind-robbing ravages of Alzheimer's disease.

Researchers led by Barry Rovner, M.D., director of Clinical Alzheimer's Disease Research at the Farber Institute for Neurosciences at Thomas Jefferson University and professor of psychiatry and neurology at Jefferson Medical College, and Samuel Gandy III, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Farber Institute for Neurosciences and professor of neurology and biochemistry and molecular pharmacology at Jefferson Medical College, are participating in a multicenter clinical trial to examine the effectiveness of a drug, Alzhemed, in halting the development of amyloid plaques and the progression of the disease in individuals with mild to moderate Alzheimer's.

Currently available medications such as Aricept, Reminyl, Exelon and Namenda treat only disease symptoms, explains Dr. Rovner.

Alzhemed is designed to act differently. "What's exciting about Alzhemed is that it works directly on the amyloid protein," says Dr. Rovner. Alzhemed is being investigated as a "disease-modifying" medication, he notes, with the objective to change the disease. "The hope is that it stabilizes the course of the disease, modifying its progression," Dr. Rovner says. "It's aimed at what is thought to be the central problem in the disease the buildup of protein in the brain that disrupts its message system."

The drug actually physically combines with amyloid to prevent plaque formation. It also is expected to inhibit the inflammatory response associated with amyloid buildup in Alzheimer's.

Drs. Rovner and Gandy will lead the Jefferson participa
'"/>


2-Nov-2004

Page: 1 2 3
Related medicine news :

1. Jefferson Lab medical imager spots breast cancer
2. Jefferson scientists uncover potential trigger of diabetic kidney disease
3. Uric acid may help reduce effects of spinal cord injury, Jefferson researchers find
4. Jefferson scientists help explain statins effects in Alzheimers disease
5. Jefferson scientists find zinc may help prevent esophageal, oral cancers
6. Jefferson virologists coax HIV out of hiding
7. Jefferson scientists find way to see breast cancer activity from outside the body
8. Jefferson and Molecular Targeting Technologies, Inc. scientists create vaccine for wildlife rabies
9. Jefferson scientists use gene therapy to rescue failing hearts in animals
10. Jefferson scientists reveal how some types of rabies invade the brain
11. Jefferson scientists uncover new evidence to help explain statins effects in Alzheimers disease