Negative Phase III Trial Results for Latrepirdine (Dimebon)
Alzheimer's Association Statement
CHICAGO, March 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- "The Alzheimer's
Association is disappointed to learn of the negative results from
the Phase III clinical trial of latrepirdine (Dimebon)," said
William Thies, Ph.D., Alzheimer's Association Chief Medical and
Scientific Officer. "People with Alzheimer's, their families and
caregivers desperately need more and better treatment options for
this devastating, fatal brain disease."
Nonetheless, the Alzheimer's Association remains optimistic
about the future prospects for better Alzheimer's treatments and
prevention strategies. Several dozen other compounds are in the
pipeline for Alzheimer's disease. We remain encouraged by the fact
that drugs in the pipeline for Alzheimer's attack the disease from
a variety of angles.
"The population is aging, and we need to make significant
advances soon in the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer's. It is
an overwhelming epidemic, already claiming millions of individuals,
and it is on track to deplete our healthcare resources and
devastate Medicare," Thies said. "The current level of federal
research funding for Alzheimer's is unacceptable considering the
many millions of people this disease affects and the huge financial
impact on our economy and society. And, these numbers will grow
exponentially with the aging of our population."
According to the Association, in order to get better diagnosis,
treatments and prevention for Alzheimer's, we must address two
important issues.
1. We must address the chronic underinvestment in research to ultimately
solve the Alzheimer crisis. We need to get more Alzheimer drugs in the
pipeline. To do this, we must increase the research investment in
Alzheimer's to levels similar to other leading causes of death, such as
cancer and heart disease. Only then will we have the chance to see the
same type of progress - such as declining death rates, and viable
lifestyle-based prevention strategies - and stop this epidemic. If we
do not invest now, the cost of Alzheimer's disease to taxpayers in
Medicare and Medicaid costs will be $20 trillion dollars over the next
40 years - equal to 25 economic stimulus bills.
2. In addition to increasing funding, it is imperative that people
volunteer for Alzheimer's clinical trials. Later this year, at the
Alzheimer's Association 2010 International Conference on Alzheimer's
Disease (ICAD) the Association is planning to launch a first of its
kind tool to help match people with Alzheimer's and caregivers with
Alzheimer's clinical trials.
Next week, the Alzheimer's Association is bringing together
advocates from across the country at the Alzheimer's Action Summit
to encourage legislators to increase funding for Alzheimer's
disease. Join us in Washington, D.C. or take action virtually at
alz.org.
Source: Alzheimer's Association
CONTACT: Niles Frantz, Alzheimer's Association,
+1-312-335-5777,
niles.frantz@alz.org, Alzheimer's
Association media line, +1-312-335-4078,
media@alz.org
Web Site: http://www.alz.org/
Posted: March 2010
