New Alzheimer’s Drug May Stop the Progression of the Disease

The drug called Rember, developed by TauRx Therappeutics, reported that by breaking up the tangles of protein that clog Alzheimer’s victims’ brains the experimental drug shows promise of stopping the progression of the disease. The drug is in the second of three stages of development and could be years away from being available. However, scientists were very excited to have a drug showing so much potential for treating the disease that afflicts more than 26 million people worldwide. “These are the first very positive results that I’ve seen” for stopping mental decline, said Marcelle Morrison‐Bogorad, director of Alzheimer’s research at the National Institute on Aging. “It’s just fantastic”.

The study involved 321 patients given one of three doses three times a day. The capsules had varying degrees in strength and the one in the mid‐level showed the best results. Over the course of six months, patients given the strongest and weakest of the doses lost an average of 7 percent of their brain function. After about a year, the placebo group continued to decline. But the group given the mid‐level dose had no decline in brain function.