Biotech firm launches massive Alzheimer's drug trial
Rutland Herald: Rutland Vermont News & Information
Biotech firm launches massive Alzheimer's drug trial
March 11, 2006
By PAUL ELIAS The Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO — It's tragedy enough that Pat Williams' mother has Alzheimer's disease. But Williams is also terrified because her chances of inheriting the disease are much better than average.
So Williams, who lives in Boston, eagerly enrolled her 90-year-old mother last year in a massive, 1,600-patient, 18-month clinical trial testing an experimental drug made by the biotechnology company Myriad Genetics Inc. The drug, called Flurizan, slowed the mind-robbing disease in some of the 128 patients with mild Alzheimer's participating in a smaller test.
Based on those results, the company has gambled millions of research dollars on the largest-ever Alzheimer's drug trial. It aims to win an intense, international race among several biotech companies to find the first effective treatment to at least slow the disease's progression in the 4.5 million Americans who suffer from it.
Biotech News
Biotech firm launches massive Alzheimer's drug trial
March 11, 2006
By PAUL ELIAS The Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO — It's tragedy enough that Pat Williams' mother has Alzheimer's disease. But Williams is also terrified because her chances of inheriting the disease are much better than average.
So Williams, who lives in Boston, eagerly enrolled her 90-year-old mother last year in a massive, 1,600-patient, 18-month clinical trial testing an experimental drug made by the biotechnology company Myriad Genetics Inc. The drug, called Flurizan, slowed the mind-robbing disease in some of the 128 patients with mild Alzheimer's participating in a smaller test.
Based on those results, the company has gambled millions of research dollars on the largest-ever Alzheimer's drug trial. It aims to win an intense, international race among several biotech companies to find the first effective treatment to at least slow the disease's progression in the 4.5 million Americans who suffer from it.
Biotech News
posted by Bill Austin - Biotech firm launches massive Alzheimer's drug trial
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