>> NEW YORK, July 18 (Reuters) - Neurochem Inc. (Toronto:NRM.TO) on Sunday said reported positive results of continuing small clinical study of its Alzheimer's disease drug, Alzhemed.
The company said that interim results of the Phase II extension study of the effects of Alzhemed on cognitive function and measure of performance in patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's, showed that some 70 percent of the mild patients had stabilized or improved cognitive function tests even after 20 months of enrollment in the study.
Phase III trials on the product candidate were launched in 70 clinical centers in North America last month. The Montreal-based company expects to launch its Phase III trial in Europe early in 2005.
Alzhemed, an orally administered drug, reduces a plaque formation in the brain caused by a protein. Most Alzheimer's researchers believe that the cause of the disease is the formation of plaque in the brain, though that has yet to be definitely proved. <<