Medivation says Alzheimer's drug found effective

Medivation says Alzheimer's drug found effective

NEW YORK - Medivation revealed on Monday that a clinical trial of its experimental drug was able to ward off deterioration of symptoms in Alzheimer's patients. According to the company, the drug called as Dimebon was able to preserve function in patients in a Phase 2 study for almost one year.

"These data demonstrate that, as a group, Dimebon-treated patients stabilized for a full year, whereas placebo-treated patients declined at the expected rate," said lead researcher Dr. Rachelle Doody, an Alzheimer's researcher from Baylor College of Medicine. The company said that the study was conducted in Russia and involved over 180 patients who were suffering from mild to moderate form of Alzheimer's disease.

The patients were divided into two groups; one group received Dimebon for three times a day, while another received placebo. Around 134 patients agreed to take the 12 months course, but only 120 managed to do so.

Medivation said it planned to get to the Phase 3 trials later this year. The results of the Phase 2 trial were presented at the Alzheimer's Association conference.

Dr. David Hung, Medivation's chief executive revealed that in Russia the drug was initially thought to be an antihistamine and was marketed as such. However it was able to protect brain cells from damage and hence the company turned to look at these effects as well.