Contact Information: CONTACT: Jeremy Spivey 919-433-0373
International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease (ICAD) Highlights Promise and Setbacks
| Source: Cutting Edge Information
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC--(Marketwire - July 20, 2009) - As is often the case, recent
news regarding potential treatments for Alzheimer's disease contains both
promise and disappointment.
The International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease (ICAD) draws attention
to the leading science behind the fight against the disease. A major
announcement preceded the conference, held in Vienna, Austria, on July
11-16. Johnson & Johnson announced its plans to inject a total of $1.5
billion into the cash-strapped Irish biotech Elan. In exchange, J&J will
receive an 18.4% equity stake in Elan and some licensing rights to its
Alzheimer's Immunotherapy Program (AIP Program).
The most promising Alzheimer's treatment in Elan's AIP Program is
bapineuzumab. According to Cutting Edge Information's "Neurodegenerative
Market Forecast to 2013," bapineuzumab could hit the market as early as
2011 and become the highest-grossing Alzheimer's drug, potentially earning
$3.4 billion by 2015. The drug is aimed at reducing the amyloid beta
plaques that build in the brain, which in turn should slow the cognitive
degeneration produced by the disease.
"Drugs targeting amyloid proteins are of major interest to the Alzheimer's
community," says Jeremy Spivey, the report's lead author. "If any one of
these drugs turns out to be effective and doesn't cause serious side
effects, it will easily become a blockbuster."
Another asset included in the AIP Program is Elan's developmental vaccine
for Alzheimer's, AAC-001. Cutting Edge Information analysts project that
AAC-001, currently in Phase II trials, will not hit the market until 2012
but could potentially bring in $400 million per year by 2015. Also
targeting amyloid proteins, AAC-001 uses a similar method to fight
Alzheimer's as bapineuzumab.
Other news was not as promising. Michael Gold, GlaxoSmithKline's vice
president of neurosciences and speaker at the ICAD, delivered some
unfavorable trial results regarding the blockbuster diabetes drug Avandia
as a treatment for Alzheimer's disease. In a six-month head-to-head trial
with Eisai's Aricept, Avandia failed to meet cognitive and behavioral
endpoints.
Scientists have been considering the idea that improved sugar levels in the
brain could benefit patients with Alzheimer's, but these trial results may
have dealt a major blow to that theory. Meanwhile, Avandia misses another
opportunity to expand its list of approved indications and bolster its
diabetes sales.
To learn more about commercial and developmental treatments for Alzheimer's
disease, download a complimentary report brochure.