Biotech Values

[DewDiligence]

Re: Fungal-infection thesis for AD

...Peter posted an AD abstract on the SI Biotech Values thread which indicated that 100% of AD pt brains biopsied showed fungal infections present… I was left with the impression that Amyloid Beta was the brain's response to an infection rather than the direct cause of AD. I would be less inclined to bet any drug that interferes with Amyloid Beta will have a successful PhIII. Rather I'd suspect significant safety issues are likely.

That’s a rather large leap! There are still more experts in AD who believe AB is relevant than there are experts who believe it isn’t.

Probably no one on this board thinks MRK’s BACE trial is a betting favorite to be successful, but because the addressable market is monumental it does seem to make sense to have some kind of participation in the outcome.

p.s. My cursory, kneejerk reaction to the fungal-infection thesis for AD was skepticism (http://www.siliconinvestor.com/readmsg.aspx?msgid=30293630 ).

p.p.s. The abstract for the paper in question:
http://www.nature.com/articles/srep15015