Treatment for Alzheimer's.
Alzheimer's Donation
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Physicians and scientists have not determined the exact cause of the disease, but they widely believe that Alzheimer's is caused by the build up of certain proteins in the brain. The proteins, called beta amyloid proteins, can damage nerve cells that are responsible for transmitting signals throughout the brain.
The damage to the brain's nerve cells has serious side effects. In many cases, the cells are unable to produce enough of a much-needed chemical called acetylcholine, which plays a key role in memory and judgment. Acetylcholine helps transmit information to other cells.
Most Alzheimer's research involves inhibiting the breakdown of acetylcholine, allowing the brain to transmit information.
The race to develop a better treatment for Alzheimer's disease took off about 10 years ago, just after the country's most widely used Alzheimer's treatment hit the market.
In 1996, the federal government approved the use of Aricept to treat the disease. Aricept is made by Pfizer and works by inhibiting the breakdown of acetylcholine. Other Alzheimer's treatments perform similar functions - but no drug is able to repair or prevent the basic cell degeneration believed responsible for the disease. In addition, Aricept and similar drugs can have side effects including nausea, vomiting, fatigue and even anorexia.
Now, 10 years later, that earlier research has set off a wider search to develop a better drug.
Targacept, for example, is developing a drug with the working name of TC-1734. The drug works by triggering certain receptor cells in the brain to release more acetylcholine, the chemical that helps transmit information. The drug would reduce the cognitive- impairment symptoms of the illness. It also seems to have fewer side effects than medications like Aricept, according to the company's studies. Targacept, based in the Piedmont Triad Research Park, has about 75 employees. It is developing drugs based on nicotine research to treat diseases of the central nervous system, which also include schizophrenia and cognitive impairment.
The company entered the public market in April. Its Nasdaq stock price debuted at $9 a share but has since ranged from $5.26 to $9 a share, reflecting the volatile biotechnology industry. Targacept officials are betting that their particular drug will deliver positive benefits. "The problem right now is there's a huge unmet need," in helpful Alzheimer's treatments, said Alan Musso, Targacept's chief financial officer. "It's just an area, right now, where the current therapeutics that are available aren't very effective."
The pharmaceutical industry is taking keen interest in the small company's research. AstraZeneca, Targacept's partner in the Alzheimer's research, makes the popular acid-reflux medications Prilosec and Nexium, for example.
Generally in developing drugs for the disease, "the failure rate is going to be high, but the reward is going to be higher," said Don deBethizy, Targacept's chief executive. TransTech Pharma is taking a different route. The company, which has about 80 employees, is using specific molecules to try to prevent Alzheimer's in patients, rather than treat the symptoms of the disease.
The company is developing molecules that could help prevent the buildup of the beta amyloid proteins believed responsible for the illness, TransTech Pharma officials said. Beta amyloid proteins can eventually kill healthy nerve cells in the brain, causing the debilitating symptoms common to Alzheimer's. A steadily aging population has made the need for drugs treating Alzheimer's disease and age-associated memory illnesses more vital, experts said. "There's a demographic tsunami coming our way, in terms of Alzheimer's disease," said Dr. Anton Porsteinsson, an assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Rochester School of Medicine in New York. "It's a big problem today, and it's going to be a huge problem."
TransTech Pharma officials agreed. "The company that comes up with a drug that really does treat this is going to be viewed as a real savior out there," said Stephen Holcombe, the company's chief financial officer. "It's certainly a popular illness to go after."
Alzheimer's Donation
Donate Online Now
.
Physicians and scientists have not determined the exact cause of the disease, but they widely believe that Alzheimer's is caused by the build up of certain proteins in the brain. The proteins, called beta amyloid proteins, can damage nerve cells that are responsible for transmitting signals throughout the brain.
The damage to the brain's nerve cells has serious side effects. In many cases, the cells are unable to produce enough of a much-needed chemical called acetylcholine, which plays a key role in memory and judgment. Acetylcholine helps transmit information to other cells.
Most Alzheimer's research involves inhibiting the breakdown of acetylcholine, allowing the brain to transmit information.
The race to develop a better treatment for Alzheimer's disease took off about 10 years ago, just after the country's most widely used Alzheimer's treatment hit the market.
In 1996, the federal government approved the use of Aricept to treat the disease. Aricept is made by Pfizer and works by inhibiting the breakdown of acetylcholine. Other Alzheimer's treatments perform similar functions - but no drug is able to repair or prevent the basic cell degeneration believed responsible for the disease. In addition, Aricept and similar drugs can have side effects including nausea, vomiting, fatigue and even anorexia.
Now, 10 years later, that earlier research has set off a wider search to develop a better drug.
Targacept, for example, is developing a drug with the working name of TC-1734. The drug works by triggering certain receptor cells in the brain to release more acetylcholine, the chemical that helps transmit information. The drug would reduce the cognitive- impairment symptoms of the illness. It also seems to have fewer side effects than medications like Aricept, according to the company's studies. Targacept, based in the Piedmont Triad Research Park, has about 75 employees. It is developing drugs based on nicotine research to treat diseases of the central nervous system, which also include schizophrenia and cognitive impairment.
The company entered the public market in April. Its Nasdaq stock price debuted at $9 a share but has since ranged from $5.26 to $9 a share, reflecting the volatile biotechnology industry. Targacept officials are betting that their particular drug will deliver positive benefits. "The problem right now is there's a huge unmet need," in helpful Alzheimer's treatments, said Alan Musso, Targacept's chief financial officer. "It's just an area, right now, where the current therapeutics that are available aren't very effective."
The pharmaceutical industry is taking keen interest in the small company's research. AstraZeneca, Targacept's partner in the Alzheimer's research, makes the popular acid-reflux medications Prilosec and Nexium, for example.
Generally in developing drugs for the disease, "the failure rate is going to be high, but the reward is going to be higher," said Don deBethizy, Targacept's chief executive. TransTech Pharma is taking a different route. The company, which has about 80 employees, is using specific molecules to try to prevent Alzheimer's in patients, rather than treat the symptoms of the disease.
The company is developing molecules that could help prevent the buildup of the beta amyloid proteins believed responsible for the illness, TransTech Pharma officials said. Beta amyloid proteins can eventually kill healthy nerve cells in the brain, causing the debilitating symptoms common to Alzheimer's. A steadily aging population has made the need for drugs treating Alzheimer's disease and age-associated memory illnesses more vital, experts said. "There's a demographic tsunami coming our way, in terms of Alzheimer's disease," said Dr. Anton Porsteinsson, an assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Rochester School of Medicine in New York. "It's a big problem today, and it's going to be a huge problem."
TransTech Pharma officials agreed. "The company that comes up with a drug that really does treat this is going to be viewed as a real savior out there," said Stephen Holcombe, the company's chief financial officer. "It's certainly a popular illness to go after."
posted by Valery Yermalitsky at
7:44 AM
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