Alzheimer’s research: lost cause
Some of Australia’s leading experts on Alzheimer’s disease say an alarming number of drug companies are abandoning research into treatments for dementia. Despite huge advances in neuro-imaging and diagnostic techniques, there has been little progress when it comes treating the disease.
Some of Australia’s leading experts on Alzheimer’s disease say an alarming number of drug companies are abandoning research into treatments for dementia.
The ABC reports despite huge advances in neuro-imaging and diagnostic techniques, there has been little progress when it comes treating the disease.
Since August, three separate giants of the pharmaceutical industry have suspended advanced clinical drug trials because they showed no effect in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s.
Professor Henry Brodaty, from the University of NSW, says the drug trial failures have sparked questions about the very foundation of what is known about Alzheimer’s, while also raising questions about whether drug treatments need to start earlier.
“Can we find a drug that can stop the disease? So far we have failed, and maybe earlier is better, that once the iceberg surfaces above the water it may be too late,” Professor Brodaty says.
Dr Ian Musgrave, senior lecturer in pharmacology at the University of Adelaide, says research and development in Alzheimer’s requires a “bottomless pit” of funding.
“As of 2010, you will not get very much change from $1 billion if you spend $1 billion on developing a new drug,” he claims.
Drug companies are only throwing money at low-risk and profitable investments, he adds.
