Intellect Neurosciences Inc. (fka ILNS)

[montanus]

Parallel findings in age-related macular degeneration and Alzheimer's disease.
Ohno-Matsui K.

Source
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Japan. [e-mail]

Prog Retin Eye Res. 2011 Jul;30(4):217-38. doi: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2011.02.004. Epub 2011 Mar 25.

Abstract
Age is a common risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Because of the increasing age of the population, these two age-related diseases have recently received a great deal of attention. In addition to age as a risk factor, AD and AMD have many characteristics in common. An important characteristic common to both diseases is the presence of amyloid ß (Aß) in the senile plaques of the AD brain and in the drusen of AMD patients. We have focused on the role of Aß as a key regulator of the progression from drusen to AMD, and our results have shown that Aß causes an imbalance of angiogenesis-related factors in the retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. Mice that lack the Aß-degrading enzyme neprilysin develop RPE degeneration, and the sub-RPE deposits that are formed have features similar to those of AMD in humans. These data suggest that a common pathogenic mechanism might exist between AMD and AD. Thus, therapeutic approaches that have targeted Aß in patients with AD can also be applied to AMD. In this review, we summarise recent findings on the shared characteristics and perspectives between AMD and AD, beginning with the mechanism of Aß deposition and including a discussion of Aß-targeted therapeutic approaches for both AD and AMD.
Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21440663



Five companies which can find a breakthrough solution for Alzheimer disease- ABT, LLY, JNJ, NVS, PFE

Northern, WI 03/13/2013 (avauncer) – There are five companies poised to find a breakthrough treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. They include the likes of Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT), Eli Lilly & Co. (NYSE:LLY), Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ), Novartis AG – ADR (NYSE: NVS) and Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE). Each of these companies is involved in research for Alzheimer’s disease that have shown some promise as a future solution.

Abbott Laboratories has a market cap around $55 billion. The Chicago-area based health care products company is conducting research in the area of neuroscience, developing compounds that target brain receptors regulating mood, memory and other functions of the brain. The company currently has 11 compounds in studies for various cognition related conditions including Alzheimer’s disease.

Eli Lilly & Co. is an Indianapolis, Indiana based pharmaceutical product company with a market cap of around $62 billion. The company’s experimental treatment, solanezumab, is part of a federally sponsored study being coordinated by Harvard Medical School. The study will be conducted over 3 years at a cost of $100 million.

Johnson & Johnson, the New Brunswick, New Jersey based healthcare research and development company, has a market cap around $214 billion. The company, in partnership with Pfizer Inc., has developed bapineuzumab designed to change the course of Alzheimer’s disease. The drug is showing some results in the reduction of certain signs associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

Swedish based healthcare solutions company Novartis AG – ADR market cap is around $168 billion. The company’s Exelon Patch (known as rivastigmine transdermal system) used with people that have mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to administer higher doses of the drug to patients.

Finally Pfizer Inc., with a market capitalization of around $201 billion is a New York City based research and biopharmaceutical company. Along with Johnson & Johnson, its bapineuzumab, has shown promise in reducing physical damage in the brain and reduced the buildup of amyloid plaque, which is associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

Shares of Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) were up by 0.14% to close at $34.98. Shares of Eli Lilly & Co. (NYSE:LLY) were up by 0.02% to close at $55.08. Shares of Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) were up by 0.15% to close at $78.56. Shares of Novartis AG – ADR (NYSE:NVS) were up by 0.78% to close at $69.53. Shares of Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) were down by 1.1% to close at $27.94.

http://avauncer.com/five-companies-which-can-find-a-breakthrough-solution-for-alzheimer-disease-abt-lly-jnj-nvs-pfe-3024