knows_AD

2 Comments

    • ON: Thu May 15th 17:29 PM
      Commented on:
      Myriad Options on Alzheimers Disease
      User 193167

      One reason that people don't get a timely diagnosis is that they know nothing can be done. For example in primary care setting some are loathe to give or get the diagnosis because it means taking away the car keys. That will change in the event that a new therapy can slow decline. Such a paradigm shift will result in earlier diagnosis and this will rapidly penetrate into people with MCI of the AD type...Thus the market will be bigger then you think. I am personally not very comfortable with slowing decline of those with more advanced AD but until we find a miracle drug (don't hold ones breath) ther eiwll be intense pressure on phycians to give any new drug to AD patients with more advanced disease. All one has to do is look at use of Aricpet and memantine to see that these drugs at least inthe US are given to many patients beyond there intial indications based on trials

      View article »
    • ON: Wed May 14th 19:53 PM
      Commented on:
      Myriad Options on Alzheimers Disease
      Some of you do need to get your facts straight. The original post shows why one needs to actually understand the science before investing in biotech/pharma. The mechsnim of aciton of FLurizan is not as an anti-inflammatory, it is a selective Abeta42 lowering agnet and Abeta42 is the prime target in AD. Read a few of the articles cited onthe Myriad web cite please..... Epidemiologic data shows an associaton with NSAID use but until recently does not ditinguish between individual drugs. A new article VLad et al neurology 2008 does provide some new insight suggesting that ibuprofen an ABeta42 loweirng NSAID is most stongly associated with benefit. Keep in mind that all epi studies support a prophylactic rather then therapeutic effect. Therapeutic trials with NSAIDs have all been thouroughly negative, BUT none have tested an Abeta42 loweirng NSAID. THe pahse 2 data form myriad on Flurizan an ABETa42 lowering compound that is not an NSAID and is very safe shows eveidnce for disease modifying effects. Current drugs for AD are bandaids and providing at best some transient symptomatic relief. Oh and they are 3 billion dollar market. If the phase II flurizan data holds a sizable percentage of those on drug will have amuch slower rate of deceline or no deceline in mutliple fucnitons for at least two years. Sales of $500 million? Try $5 billion. there is nothing else out there that will be safe and have evidence for diseasee modificaiton for quite some time. (Immunotherapy ain't going to be safe and wont be aqble to be used on millions of patients for a long time. Indeed what is the largest numberr of people treated with any immunotherapy 10,000+ per year maybe with one drug).
      View article »
Loading...
Symbols:
Authors:
Quick Links:
Contribute an Article Become a Seeking Alpha Contributor

Transcripts

More Transcripts»