A new alzheimer's drug from
TauRx Therapeutics called
Rember has been shown to be effective in improving alzheimers symptoms in a phase II clinical trial. At 24 weeks the drug showed a "statistically significant benefit" compared to those recieving placebo. Patients who were recieving treatment did not experience the same rate of decline as those who were only receiving sham treatment. After 50 weeks, both mild and moderate patients experienced benefits in comparison to controls. The scores of patients who were taking the real treatment showed no substantial decline, while the patients in the placebo group deteriorated by seven points after 50 weeks. After 19 months the patients who were taking the 60 mg dose still did not experience a significant decline. The study showed that the drug slowed the progression of the disease by as much as 81%.
People who took the drug for 50 weeks had less of a decline in blood flow to the parts of the brain that are involved in memory when compared to those who took a placebo. This is a phase II trial that has been completed and they are not currently recruiting new patients. It does not appear that they are recruting patients for phase III trials quite yet. Phase III trials should commence sometime in 2009. See here for Taurx clinical trials.
The primary objective of the study is to investigate the effects of oral TRx0014 at three doses (30, 60 and 100 mg tid) compared with placebo on cognitive ability in patients with mild or moderate dementia of the Alzheimer type. Cognitive ability will be measured by the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale - cognitive subscale (ADAS-cog). The primary evaluation will be made at 24 weeks.
Most alzheimer's drugs that are already approved usually only reduce the symptoms associated with alzheimer's, but this new drug may actually do something to slow the disease process. In patients with alzheimer's disease they have tangles in their brain that are made up of the protein called tau. This protein is also common to several other neurodegenerative diseases. You can read an interesting article here about the tau protein. Apparently this new drug inhibits the tau protein and this appears to improve the deficits in cognitive functioning that are the result of this disease. Below is more information about this drug from the TauRx website.
TauRx has identified drugs which have the ability to dissolve the tau fibres of the tangle and which also work in a range of laboratory test systems pioneered by the company. TauRx’s first-in-class Tau Aggregation Inhibitor rember™ is the only disease-modifying drug at clinical trial stage which works on the tau aggregation pathway. rember™ is a novel form of a chemical with a long history of use in the treatment of other conditions which TauRx has patented for medical use in the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer’s disease. rember™ works by dissolving the tau aggregates and preventing the aggregation process.
The trial that they performed was on 300 patients and they found that the new drug was twice as effective as existing treatments. It sounds like they are also testing this new drug on parkinson's patients as well.
In addition to its Phase 2 clinical trial of rember TauRx is also planning a trial in Parkinson’s as rember also has activity on the synuclein fibres which accumulate in the brains of these patients in the form of Lewy bodies.
The results are still only preliminary and more studies need to be completed to ascertain the true benefit. However, this new drug shows enormous potential for treating this devastating disease.
A new alzheimer's drug from TauRx Therapeutics called Rember has been shown to be effective in improving alzheimers symptoms in a phase II clinical trial. At 24 weeks the drug showed a "statistically significant benefit" compared to those recieving placebo. Patients who were recieving treatment did not experience the same rate of decline as those who were only receiving sham treatment. After 50 weeks, both mild and moderate patients experienced benefits in comparison to controls. The scores of patients who were taking the real treatment showed no substantial decline, while the patients in the placebo group deteriorated by seven points after 50 weeks. After 19 months the patients who were taking the 60 mg dose still did not experience a significant decline. The study showed that the drug slowed the progression of the disease by as much as 81%. People who took the drug for 50 weeks had less of a decline in blood flow to the parts of the brain that are involved in memory when compared to those who took a placebo. This is a phase II trial that has been completed and they are not currently recruiting new patients. It does not appear that they are recruting patients for phase III trials quite yet. Phase III trials should commence sometime in 2009. See here for Taurx clinical trials.
4 comments:
If Rember is to be tested with Parkinson sufferers, where do I get more infomation to join the program.
Is this all we know? Is it a pill, liquid or injection? My husband who has had AD for 6.5 years is now taking am injection of Enbrel once a week since June 18, 2008. He has shown improvement. I heard about it on CNN News in mid-May. A team of Doctors in LA, CA have been having trials for 3.5 years.
Do you think this could help people with dementia? I mean, I have a relative who has not been diagnosed as Alzheimer disease but shows symptoms like memory loss, lack of attention... I think she could have som type of dementia. I wonder if this kind of drugs could work in this disease?
Can someone provide any information to help me enroll a patient in the anti-arthritic drug- Etanercept injections program? I have been aware of the great progress made as so many articles have depicted in recent postings. My mom is 80 years old and has been always young for her age. Up until a year ago, she was frequently perceived as an active woman younger than her years. In the past 12 months, dementia has taken its toll and she can barely recognize my dad and her sons. I have asked the neurologist she frequents about the Etanercept injections. The typical response I receive is quite negative. They dismiss the trials as if they were based on some paranormal exercise. If someone can contact me with some relative data on who is conducting these trials and how I can contact them – I would be extremely grateful. – Gary --- “G1441@aol.com”
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