Two New Alzheimer's Treatments Patented
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: December 1, 2004
Filed at 8:02 a.m. ET
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) -- The Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences
Institute has patented two new potential treatments for Alzheimer's
disease.
One treatment uses bryostatin, a cancer treatment drug. Bryostatin
activates an enzyme, which jump-starts a chemical process thought to
reduce the growth of certain plaques in the brain believed to cause
Alzheimer's, institute researchers found.
In lab animals, bryostatin appears to treat the memory loss symptoms and
the causes of Alzheimer's.
``Bryostatin might even prevent the disease,'' said Dr. Daniel Alkon,
the institute's scientific director.
The other treatment appears to improve short-term memory by combining
methylxanthine, found in coffee and tea, and phenylalanine, an
artificial sweetener ingredient. Alkon said the mixture might also be
used to treat attention-deficit disorder.
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office awarded the patents on Nov. 23 and
Nov. 30, and clinical trials could start in six to eight months.
Both treatments, which use substances already approved for use in
humans, require more testing in people to see if they are safe and
effective.
The patents build on previous research at the institute into how brain
molecules interact to form memory.
Alzheimer's affects about 40,000 West Virginians and more than 4 million
Americans.
Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., helped found the nonprofit institute in
1999 in memory of his mother, who battled Alzheimer's before her death
in 1992.
West Virginia University recently broke ground for a $30 million
building in Morgantown for the institute.
About 25 institute researchers work in labs at WVU and Johns
Hopkins University in Baltimore.