a treatment could finally be available "within 2 or 3 years"

Are researchers in the process of finding a cure for Alzheimer's disease? While in France, this neurodegenerative disease affects nearly 900,000 people, it remains so far incurable. But a study presented in Chicago at a world congress on the fight against Alzheimer's disease is a real ray of hope.

A large clinical trial

Friday, July 27, the American laboratory Biogen and his Japanese partner Eisai jointly presented a clinical trial conducted on 858 patients with the disease at an early stage. In Phase II of the trial, all were subjected for 18 months to a new molecule called BAN32401. For the first time, researchers have found that this treatment can slow the progression of the disease in patients by reducing amyloid plaques accumulated in the brain.

These amyloid plaques are not only a marker of Alzheimer's disease but they are also responsible for the alteration of the mental functions of the patients, and in particular the loss of memory. Consisting of A-beta protein, they accumulate abnormally in neurons, resulting in progressive and irreversible brain damage.

In the clinical trial, some patients received larger doses of molecule BAN32401: 10 mg per kg and per month, or every 15 days. Scientists then observed a decrease in the worsening of memory disorders in 30% of patients. After 18 months, the amyloid plaques had disappeared.

For Alfred Sandrock, head of research at Biogen, "these results point out that neurodegenerative diseases might not be as difficult to treat as they appeared". [19659002] "A treatment within 2 or 3 years"

A point of view shared by Professor Bruno Vellas, founder of the Gérontopôle of the University Hospital of Toulouse and the European Consortium on Alzheimer's Disease (EADC). Interviewed by La Dépêche, he claims that this new molecule could revolutionize the management of Alzheimer's disease. "If this phase II is confirmed by phase III, in progress, including Toulouse, we have a good chance of achieving treatment within 2 to 3 years."

The Alzheimer's specialist mentions also the side effects of the molecule BAN32401: the formation in about 10% of patients of edema and inflammations of the brain, related to the use of monoclaux antibodies. "Some patients have these edema but no symptoms, others have symptoms and at that time it is better to stop the doses," he warns.

Another advance mentioned by Professor Vellas: that of discovery by Roche Labs a biological marker of Alzheimer's disease. "Currently, to detect the formation of amyloid plaques, it is necessary to pbad a cerebral pet scan It is expensive Tomorrow, it will be enough of a simple blood test to identify this amyloid peptide and to study molecules likely to prevent the production rather than destroying them, some are already being tested. "