Immunotherapy for Alzheimer's disease

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Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia, is characterized by progressive loss of memory and cognition, ultimately leading to complete debilitation and death. A hallmark feature of Alzheimer's pathology is the presence of insoluble protein deposits known as beta-amyloid on the surface of nerve cells, which results from the accumulation of soluble beta-amyloid in the brain. The effects of the disease are devastating to the patients as well as the caregivers, with significant associated health care costs. It is estimated that there are over 12 million people suffering from Alzheimer's disease in the major markets worldwide with the number increasing as the global population ages. Currently marketed drugs transiently affect some of the symptoms of the disease, but there are no drugs on the market today that slow or arrest the progression of the disease. These symptomatic drugs are projected to generate approximately $4 billion in sales by 2008, indicating both the size of the market and the demand for effective treatment beyond symptomatic improvements.

Immunotherapy for Alzheimer's disease involves making an antibody molecule available to bind to the endogenous beta-amyloid toxin, thus promoting its clearance away from the brain. This therapeutic outcome can be achieved either by provoking the patient's immune system to generate such an antibody ("active immunization") or by administering an externally generated antibody ("passive immunization"). Both approaches have the potential to slow or arrest disease progression provided that key safety issues are addressed. Intellect has incorporated proprietary safety features into its technology platforms for both active and passive immunization, which provides the Company with a strong competitive advantage in this field.