Biotech Values

[DewDiligence]

Octapharma Joins the IVIG Alzheimer’s Hunt

[Given BAX’s phase-2 results of Gammagard in AD (#msg-48931804), the other plasma-protein companies such as Octapharma, CSL Behring, and TLCR would have to be nuts not to try to get in on the action. IVIG products are essentially fungible, so if one of them works in AD, all of them ought to work.]

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Octapharma-Trial-on-bw-94917615.html?x=0&.v=1

›Octapharma Trial on Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG) in Alzheimer's Disease at ICAD 2010 Congress

April 19, 2010, 12:48 pm EDT

LACHEN, Switzerland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The on-going phase II trial on Octapharma's 10% intravenous immunoglobulin octagam®10% will be a topic at the up-coming International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease (ICAD 2010) to take place in Honolulu, Hawaii from July 10 to 15. Researchers from around the globe will attend ICAD to share groundbreaking research and information on the cause, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders.

Octapharma's trial entitled "Prospective 24-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter study evaluating safety and efficacy in mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease under treatment with increasing dosages of intravenous immunoglobulin (octagam® 10%)" and lead by the principal investigator Prof. Richard Dodel, Philips-University, Marburg, Germany, investigates the effects of octagam®10% in Alzheimer's Disease (AD). The trial’s aims are to identify the optimal IVIG dose and treatment interval for maximizing potential therapeutic effects on various biochemical and clinical parameters in AD patients. The trial will advance our understanding of Aß- and tau-mediated neurodegeneration in AD. The completion of the trial is expected for September 2010.

Prof. Martin Farlow, Indiana University, Indianapolis, principal investigator for the USA, authors and will present the related poster during the ICAD 2010 conference.

AD is the most common form of dementia among the elderly population representing the fourth leading cause of death in the developed world. Substantial cost implications are related to AD and other dementia, being estimated in the US at USD148 billion for direct and indirect costs, not including an estimated USD 94 billion in unpaid services provided annually (Alzheimer’s Association).

About Octagam®10%

Octagam®10% is a liquid, 10% (100 mg/mL) immune globulin (human) solution for intravenous administration (IVIG) which is currently registered in European countries and expected to be launched in the US later this year. It is the 10% version of Octagam® (50 mg/mL) which was first launched in 1995 and is currently sold in about 60 countries worldwide, including the USA and the EU.

About Octapharma AG

Octapharma, a biopharmaceutical company, was founded in 1983. Its mission is to work for the safe and optimal usage of human proteins. Octapharma products are state-of-the-art within treatment of immune diseases, haemophilia, volume expansion and plasma transfusions. Octapharma’s turnover in 2009 was EUR 1,009 million. Octapharma is a privately held company with headquarters in Lachen, Switzerland, with 4,000 employees worldwide.‹