Replies to post #125826 on Biotech Values

[hptaxis]

From your link:

Competition

Alzheimer’s disease therapies under development can largely be divided into two categories: those demonstrating a symptomatic benefit therapy; and those demonstrating a disease-modifying benefit. Although a symptomatic benefit can improve the quality of life of the patient by reducing depression, agitation and anxiety and even delay hospitalization by a few months, the effects are typically transient and do not have the disease-modifying effects that will slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, prolong life expectancy and possibly even cure this devastating illness. To date, the FDA has approved five drugs to treat people who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. All are drugs that provide symptomatic benefits. None of these medications slows or arrests the progression of Alzheimer’s disease itself.

Four of the five FDA-approved drugs are so-called cholinesterase inhibitors, prescribed for the treatment of mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease. These medications are Razadyne (formerly known as Reminyl) (marketed by Johnson & Johnson), Exelon (Novartis International AG), Aricept (Pfizer Inc. & Eisai Inc.) and Cognex (originally developed by Shire Pharmaceuticals Group plc). The fifth approved medication is Namenda (Forest Laboratories, Inc.) prescribed for the treatment of moderate to severe Alzheimer’s disease.

In March 2000, Elan Pharmaceuticals and Wyeth entered into a collaboration to discover, develop and commercialize immunotherapeutic approaches for the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders. They have reported that they are in Phase 3 clinical development of Bapineuzumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody specific for amyloid beta, for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Also Pfizer is reportedly developing a humanized monoclonal antibody therapy that targets amyloid beta for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, which is in Phase I clinical trials. Pfizer acquired the drug candidate, RN 1219, through its acquisition of Rinat Neuroscience. Other companies testing humanized beta-amyloid specific antibodies in clinical trials include Eli Lilly, which reportedly has initiated Phase III trials.

[DewDiligence]

There’s nothing in that PR about a royalty on sales of Bapineuzumab.