Scientists in Sarasota researched a drug that is now being tested in a large study in Europe.
The study is taking place in 9 countries, 26 sites and 8 languages.
The Roskamp Institute in Sarasota researched the drug using mice to see its effects. Institute President Dr. Fiona Crawford said the results gave a positive signal.
“If the drug does a fraction of what it does in our mouse models for Alzheimer’s disease then it’s going to be enormously beneficial,” she said.
The drug combats the buildup of a particular protein in the brain that’s linked to Alzheimer’s.
The study is funded through the European Union with 17 partners including Roskamp’s spin-off Archer Pharmaceuticals. The drug is used in Japan and Europe for other health conditions, but was never applied to Alzheimer’s treatment.
The study is about halfway through recruiting what will be a total of 500 Alzheimer’s patients who will randomly either be put on a placebo or the drug for about 18 months.
A smaller study that involved no placebos to test the drug’s safety was held around 2008.
Crawford said if the drug is approved for Alzheimer’s use in Europe, its transition into America would be relatively smooth.
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