UsAgainstAlzheimer's Chairman George Vradenburg recently expressed support after the announcement of Eli Lilly and Co.'s and AstraZeneca's Phase III trials last month for the oral beta secretase cleaving enzyme (BACE) inhibitor drug, which will be tested for effectiveness against Alzheimer's disease.
"Today's announcement is positive news for those of us in the field and is especially bright news for Alzheimer's families worldwide," Vradenburg said. "Lilly's and AstraZeneca's progress reinforces our growing optimism that the industry is on the verge of unprecedented innovation in treating Alzheimer's."
The continuation of the AMARANTH Phase II/III clinical trial into Phase III was announced on April 8, after the interim safety analysis was conducted. The trial is evaluating the BACE inhibitor AZD3293, which is expected to slow the disease progression.
"The Alzheimer's disease drug pipeline is offering renewed promise in contrast to the lack of notable success experienced in the last decade," Vradenburg said. "Just last week, an analysis conducted by ResearchersAgainstAlzheimer's (RA2), an UsAgainstAlzheimer's (UsA2) network, found that 17 drugs were on pace to launch in the next five years. Today's announcement by Eli Lilly and Co. and AstraZeneca increases that number to 18, providing a much-needed boost of enthusiasm as researchers continue their unrelenting search for an effective treatment."
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