Thursday December 16, 7:46 am Eastern Time
Elan starts Betabloc Phase I studies
DUBLIN, Dec 16 (Reuters) - Irish pharmaceuticals group Elan Corp Plc (quote from Yahoo! UK & Ireland: ELA.L)(NYSE:ELN - news) said on Thursday it had started Phase I clinical studies of Betabloc, a therapeutic agent intended for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
Elan said animal studies showed Betabloc prevented the buildup, and reduced the level, of established amyloid plaue, considered by many scientists to be one of the main causes of Alzheimer's disease.
``Based on these results, Elan has initiated clinical development to study the potential of this product candidate as a disease modifying agent,' Elan said in a statement.
The studies, including up to 48 patients, will take a year to complete, Elan said.
``We are delighted that we have been able to move Betabloc so quickly into the clinic,' Donal Geaney, chairman and chief executive officer, said in a statement.
``As far as we know, Betabloc is the first potential agent to be evaluated in humans as an Alzheimer's disease plaque modifying agent,' Geaney said.
biz.yahoo.com |
