Newswise Leading scientists have selected the first drugs to be evaluated in a worldwide clinical study to determine whether they can prevent Alzheimers disease. The pioneering trial, expected to start by early 2013, initially will test three promising drugs, each designed to target Alzheimers in different ways. In people with inherited mutations that cause early-onset Alzheimers, the study will seek to identify whether the drugs can improve Alzheimers disease biomarkers and effectively prevent the loss of cognitive function. This trial is the result of a groundbreaking collaboration between academic institutions, pharmaceutical companies and patient advocacy groups, with key support from regulatory groups, says principal investigator Randall Bateman, MD, the Charles F. and Joanne Knight Distinguished Professor in Neurology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. We are excited that this diverse portfolio of drugs and approaches will accelerate the discovery of an effective treatment for Alzheimers. The trial will be conducted by the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimers Network Trials Unit (DIAN TU) at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. The trials unit is supported by the DIAN, an NIH-funded collaboration of world-leading Alzheimers research centers; the Alzheimers Association; and the DIAN Pharma Consortium, composed of 10 pharmaceutical … Continue reading →

According to the Alzheimers Association, an estimated 5.4 million Americans of all ages currently have Alzheimers disease. And the number of people with the disease will increase each year as the proportion of the U.S. population over age 65 continues to growand its predicated it will escalate rapidly as the baby boom generation ages. Now for some potentially good news. Scientists have selected three different types of Alzheimers drugs to be tested in the first large-scale international attempt to prevent the disease in people who are otherwise doomed to get it, reports The New York Times. MORE: Can Skipping Processed Foods Prevent Alzheimer's? The Times explains that, Most of the test subjects will have no symptoms . . . but they would be expected to start showing signs of problems with memory and thinking within five years unless the drugs work. The hope is that by intervening early, the disease might be headed off. Another study starting next year involves an extended family in Colombia that shares the same mutation. Anyone who inherits that mutated gene gets Alzheimers disease. A third study will involve people in the United States age 70 and older who seem perfectly healthy and who do … Continue reading →

Lance Armstrong's former team-mate George Hincapie has admitted using performance-enhancing drugs. The American, who rode for the US Postal Service team, helped Armstrong win his seven Tour de France wins. "Given the widespread use of performance-enhancing drugs by cyclists at the top of the profession, it was not possible to compete without them," said the 39-year-old Hincapie. His testimony will further damage Armstrong's reputation. Hincapie was among 11 riders identified as having provided evidence to the United States Anti-Doping Agency (Usada) in its investigation into doping. In their report released on Wednesday, Usada said Armstrong's team ran "the most sophisticated, professionalised and successful doping programme the sport has ever seen". Hincapie, who retired in August, has joined a number of former Armstrong team-mates, including Floyd Landis and Tyler Hamilton, who have admitted to doping during their career. Armstrong has always denied using drugs but was banned for life in August after deciding not to fight the charges laid against him by Usada. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Hamilton saw Armstrong take drugs Go here to see the original: Hincapie admits to taking drugs … Continue reading →

Experimental drugs from Roche Holding AG and Eli Lilly & Co have been selected for a global Alzheimer's disease prevention trial, and a second Lilly drug is being considered for inclusion in the study, Washington University said on Wednesday. The trial, expected to begin in early 2013, will enroll 160 patients with inherited gene mutations that typically lead to Alzheimer's disease at a young age, the St. Louis university said on Wednesday. The drugs chosen for the study are Roche's gantenerumab and Lilly's solanezumab. Under consideration is an experimental Lilly drug called a beta-secretase inhibitor. Researchers in August said solanezumab failed to prevent decline in cognitive and physical function among patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's in two large late-stage studies. But hopes for the drug were revived a bit on Monday when Lilly said an analysis of pooled data from the two studies showed solanezumab led to a 34 percent reduction in memory decline for patients with mild symptoms over a period of 18 months. It said the change was statistically significant. Solanezumab, a monoclonal antibody, attacks beta amyloid, a protein that forms plaques in the brain that many scientists believe are a main cause of the progressive memory-robbing … Continue reading →

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA--(Marketwire - Oct. 11, 2012) - Miraculins Inc. (MOM.V), a medical diagnostic company focused on acquiring, developing and commercializing diagnostic tests and risk assessment technologies for unmet clinical needs; London Drugs, one of Canada's leading pharmacy chains; and Pear Healthcare Solutions, a leading provider of in-pharmacy health screening and educational services, today announce further details surrounding the retail pharmacy launch of the PreVu(R) Non-Invasive Skin Cholesterol Point of Care (POC) Test in London Drugs locations in Western Canada this fall. "We are pleased to confirm that we will be launching the PreVu(R) POC Test in eleven of our stores, with ten being located in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, and another store now being added in Winnipeg," said John Tse, Vice President, Pharmacy for London Drugs. "This includes our prestigious, brand new Olympic Village store, which is located in the previous home of the Canadian National Olympic Committee and the Athletes' Multimedia Centre for the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games." (A complete list of participating stores follows.) The dates for the launch program will be Monday, October 29th with 6 of the stores participating, and Thursday, November 1st with the remaining 5 stores participating. Customers can call their pharmacists … Continue reading →

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Experimental Alzheimer's drugs from Roche Holding AG and Eli Lilly & Co have been selected for a high-profile clinical trial to test whether it is possible to prevent the brain-wasting disease from developing in at-risk patients. The trial, expected to start early next year, will enroll 160 patients worldwide with inherited gene mutations that typically lead to Alzheimer's symptoms when they are as young as in their 30s, Washington University in St. Louis said on Wednesday in announcing the drugs' selection. Drug studies over the past decade have tried and failed to slow progression of Alzheimer's among patients who already have dementia. The hope is that success in arresting symptoms in patients who are so highly predisposed to develop the disease will show the way to preventing Alzheimer's in a much wider population. "We're going in with three different drugs, with three different mechanisms of action, to find out which works best," said Dr. Randall Bateman, a neurologist at the Washington University School of Medicine who will lead the trial. Bateman, in a telephone interview, said about half the patients in the trial will have no symptoms at all when the study begins, while the rest … Continue reading →