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LAS VEGAS (FOX5) – A promising treatment for Alzheimer's disease was withdrawn from clinical trials on Thursday and local researchers are now wondering if the drug company has left enough time.
"This was a pretty disappointing news for us," said Dr. Aaron Ritter, director of clinical research at the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. Dr. Ritter and his team had been involved in the study for two years. Eight patients with Alzheimer's disease took part in the study. "In a decades-long illness, it is very difficult to prove its benefits after a year and a half."
The drug is called Aducanumab and was manufactured by the pharmaceutical company Biogen. It destroys amyloid protein or plaque, which destroys the memory and basic functions of the brain. It is one of the most effective treatments for Alzheimer's disease developed over 10 years ago.
Dr. Ritter explained that when large pharmaceutical companies like Biogen start a $ 1 billion trial, checkpoints were put in place during the study. Checkpoints prevent companies from losing money with a drug that is unlikely to be approved by the FDA. A recent checkpoint determined that Aducanumab had no benefit.
Dr. Ritter argued that the trial was not long enough.
"This disease is a disease that [affects] people … for years, if not decades, "said Dr. Ritter. "They were trying to show in a year or a year and a half that the drug would have a significant impact on the course of the disease. It's a pretty high bar to set. "
Dr. Ritter and his team have stopped their Aducanumab trial, but do not lose hope in treatment or curative treatment. Lou Ruvo is involved in several other studies on Alzheimer's disease.
"All people over 60 are at risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and we have no effective treatments yet," said Dr. Ritter. "We must continue to fight this disease because this disease does not stop."
Copyright 2019 KVVU (KVVU Broadcasting Corporation). All rights reserved.
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