MELBOURNE, Australia, June 21 /PRNewswire/ -- The prestigious scientific journal Neuron released today scientific findings by Harvard based scientist Ashley I. Bush, MD PhD., chief scientific advisor to Prana Biotechnology Ltd. (OTC Bulletin Board: PRNAF; ASX: PBT), and the Mental Health Research Institute, University of Melbourne, show that a new drug could provide the first successful treatment of the underlying biological cause of Alzheimer's disease (AD).
In the article, Dr. Bush reports that Clioquinol, a Copper/Zinc-binding drug that is given orally to transgenic mice and Prana's lead compound, markedly reduced their Alzheimer brain pathology within nine weeks; decreasing beta-amyloid accumulation by 50 percent during that period. This article comes after years of research conducted by Dr. Bush and his colleagues at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and the Mental Health Research Institute of Victoria, University of Melbourne. The focus of their discovery highlights the unique binding attributes of the beta-amyloid protein with zinc and copper. This breakthrough provides a viable explanation for the abnormal binding of these metals with beta-amyloid that is commonplace in AD. This reaction ultimately leads to the corruption of the protein and its ensuing toxicity. Copper and Zinc are normally present at high concentrations in the regions of the brain that are most affected by AD damage.
Prana Biotechnology Executive Chairman Geoffrey Kempler commented, ``Neuron's publication of the research findings is dramatic testimony to the validity of Dr. Bush's scientific work on AD.''
Mr. Kempler further pointed out that Clioquinol is only one of a number of Prana compounds aimed at a range of neurological diseases including Alzheimer's disease; Parkinson's disease; Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD or Mad Cow disease) and Motor Neuron disease. Prana is also developing diagnostic tests for additional conditions.
Clioquinol is currently in a phase two clinical trial at the Mental Health Research Institute and is supported by Prana Biotechnology Ltd. and the Alzheimer's Association of America. The Company anticipates results from the double blind study to be available in the early part of 2002.
About Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that slowly destroys nerve cells in the brain. Overall, most investigators in the field attribute the cause of AD to the accumulation of a protein called beta-amyloid within the brain. There has been no agreement however, on what causes the accumulation or how the beta-amyloid is associated with the loss of brain function that leads to memory loss and dementia. The disease primarily afflicts people over the age of 65 and is growing rapidly. Currently, in the United States, AD affects approximately four million Americans.
About Neuron
Neuron is the most prestigious scientific journal in the world dealing with neuroscience. Out of approximately 2,700 scientific journals in the world, Neuron would be considered in the top ten. Dr. Bush's article is also available on Neuron website at neuron.org.
About Prana Biotechnology Limited
Based in Australia, incorporated in 1997 and listed on the Australian Stock Exchange in March 2000, Prana Biotechnology (OTC Bulletin Board: PRNAF; ASX: PBT) was established to commercialize research into Alzheimer's disease and other major age-related degenerative disorders. Its mission is to develop diagnostic and therapeutic drugs to treat the central disease pathways that cause degeneration of the brain as the aging process progresses. Prana's technology has emerged from its researchers at prominent international institutions such as Massachusetts General Hospital at Harvard Medical School and the University of Melbourne. For further information, please visit our web site at pranabio.com. |
