Alzheimer's disease: new perspectives in treatment
Doctors managed to slow down the development of Alzheimer's disease for the first time
American pharmacists from Eli Lilly have published the results of a clinical trial of a drug that reduces the amount of beta-amyloid that accumulates in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease. According to the reports presented, the drug was able to slow down the development of the disease for the first time, the Nature portal (Antibody drugs for Alzheimer's show glimmers of promise) reports.
The results were presented by the company at the annual international conference of the Alzheimer's Association on July 22 in Washington.
The drug was tested under the working name "solanezumab" (solanezumab). The study was organized in continuation of previous tests, which showed that after taking the drug for 18 months, the rate of deterioration of cognitive functions in people with early Alzheimer's slowed by 30 percent compared to those patients who did not take the drug.
Patients with an early form of Alzheimer's took part in the new testing. The part of the group that took placebo was eventually also transferred to solanezumab. This method was chosen to check whether the drug relieves the symptoms of the disease or affects its cause.
According to the report, those who started taking solanezumab later, by the end of the test, equaled the rate of deterioration of cognitive functions with the part of the group that was continuously treated with the drug. Based on this, pharmacists concluded that the drug really affects the cause of the disease.
At the same time, previous clinical trials of drugs that destroy beta-amyloid were unsuccessful.
Some experts have expressed doubts about the effectiveness of drugs, noting that a change in diet and exercise can also slow down the development of Alzheimer's disease. Scientists who spoke in support of Lilly's discoveries said that previous trials failed because people began to be treated too late. This coincides with the fact that Lilly found that the drug only helps people with a mild form of the disease.
Lilly started a new phase of drug testing in 2013, it will end in October 2016.
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23.07.2015