Tag: Alzheimer’s

8
Apr 2019

Bionest

Alzheimer’s Disease Update

Scientific evidence increasingly points to brain inflammation as a major driver of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Researchers have discovered that amyloid, one of the hallmarks of the disease, is antimicrobial and may help the immune system fight invaders to the brain. They theorize that accumulating amyloid plaques and tau tangles in response to infection set the...
24
Dec 2018

Bionest

New Approaches to an Earlier Alzheimer’s Disease Diagnosis

We have written previously about the need for earlier diagnosis for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other dementias, a capability that could both aid in the discovery and the development of new therapies, and increase the chances for better patient outcomes in slowing or preventing cognitive decline. Recently, researchers have presented data on several new non-invasive...
13
Aug 2018

Bionest

Positive Results Reported in Alzheimer’s Disease — But Questions Remain

In early July, Biogen and Eisai announced that analysis of their 18-month Phase 2 trial of BAN2401 revealed encouraging results, showing an effect on both lowering of amyloid levels and slowing of cognitive decline in patients treated with the highest dose of the drug. This spurred some analysts to hail the news as encouraging support...
24
May 2018

Bionest

Hot Topics in Neurology at AAN

We have been thinking for some time about the importance of biomarkers in both drug discovery and clinical medicine as they relate to Alzheimer’s (and our In Vivo publication also addresses this topic in depth). At the recent American Academy of Neurology (AAN) conference, there was also widespread interest in this topic, spurred in part...
12
Mar 2018

Bionest

Alzheimer’s Disease: Continued Clinical Failure and a Potential New Development Pathway

Alzheimer’s disease continues to be a costly and frustrating minefield for drug developers. Most recently, Boehringer Ingelheim halted development of the phosphodiesterase type 9 (PDE9) inhibitor BI 409306 after it failed in phase 2. Merck also ended its trial of verubecestat, the company’s beta-secretase-1 (BACE1) inhibitor, in early stage Alzheimer’s disease patients for futility, a few...
6
Oct 2017

Bionest

Alzheimer’s Disease and the Diagnostic Dilemma

Head over to LinkedIn to read an article by our principal consultant Rachel Laing as part of our continuing commentary on Alzheimer’s Disease. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/alzheimers-disease-diagnostic-dilemma-rachel-laing/  
7
Sep 2017

Bionest

Diagnosing Alzheimer’s Disease — Part 2

As we wrote in our last post, the ability to accurately diagnose Alzheimer’s disease before a person’s death has been problematic. Experts estimate that a third or more of patients’ cognitive impairment or dementia may be inaccurately diagnosed. As a result, such patients may not benefit from the treatments they do receive or may have...
21
Aug 2017

Bionest

New Developments on the Alzheimer’s Disease Diagnostic Front — Part I

In July, we attended the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in London. The big news at the meeting was on the diagnostics front.  In the aftermath of the recent string of trial failures, diagnostic tools have become a critical area of focus, in the hopes that patient diagnosis and selection can be improved.   Accurately diagnosing...