No long awaited results, alas. They are now hinting that it might take longer than this quarter to massage the P3 data and develop the spin the for the accompanying PRs. I doubt you'll see much of a short squeeze based on today's presentation. Good thing I used August puts for the bear spread.
>>At the 2007 Alzheimer's Association International Conference on the Prevention of Dementia - Neurochem's U.S. Principal Investigator Presents Update on Tramiprosate (ALZHEMED(TM))
Monday June 11, 5:55 am ET
WASHINGTON, DC, June 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Paul S. Aisen, M.D., Professor of Neurology and Medicine at Georgetown University Medical Center, and principal investigator in the United States of Neurochem Inc.'s North American Phase III clinical trial for tramiprosate (ALZHEMED(TM)) will present today an update on Neurochem's investigational product candidate for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The presentation by Dr. Aisen will take place at the Intervention and Treatment Session, scheduled from 2:30 - 4:30 P.M. (ET), at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference on Prevention of Dementia in Washington, DC. In his presentation entitled, A Phase III Study of the Efficacy, Safety and Disease Modification Effect of Tramiprosate in Mild-to-Moderate Alzheimer's Disease, Dr. Aisen will review the Phase III clinical trial and provide an update.
Neurochem announced in April 2007 that an adjustment to the initial statistical model, as set out in the statistical plan, would be necessary to provide accurate results. The procedure to arrive at a reliable model involves a detailed analysis of potential confounding factors, and Dr. Aisen will present on the progress to date. In addition, Dr. Aisen will provide an update on the progress in the analysis of the Phase III clinical trial primary endpoint data. Some preliminary descriptive data shows numerical differences in favor of tramiprosate (ALZHEMED(TM)) on the primary clinical endpoint and also shows differences between groups on the primary disease modification endpoint as measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, work regarding the adjustment of the statistical model is ongoing and, therefore results of the Phase III clinical trial cannot be derived from the preliminary data nor can statistical significance be assigned at this time. Accordingly, no predictions or conclusions can yet be made regarding the outcome of the Phase III study.
Neurochem continues to expect to announce the top-line results of the trial during the second quarter of this year, although they may not be available within this timeframe. The actual timing of the release of these top-line results depends on completing the adjustments to the initial statistical model.
Alzheimer's Association News Briefing
The Alzheimer's Association has invited Dr. Aisen to present on the tramiprosate (ALZHEMED(TM)) program for inclusion in a news briefing to be held today, June 11, 2007, at 12:00 P.M. (ET).
Continuing Medical Education Symposium
Neurochem is also supporting a CME symposium on June 11 at 6:30 PM at the conference. The symposium, entitled Confronting the Burgeoning AD Crisis: New Frontiers, is sponsored by Professional Postgraduate Services®. The invited faculty presenters are Howard M. Fillit, MD, Steven T. DeKosky, MD and Serge Gauthier, MD, and they will examine the burden of AD and assess the need for improving diagnosis, with a special focus on shifting the treatment paradigm from managing symptoms to treating the underlying causes of the disease.
Neurochem Poster Presentations
Neurochem is also exhibiting three poster presentations on tramiprosate (ALZHEMED(TM)) at this conference. All posters are displayed in the Exhibit Hall of the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, open on June 10 from 10:30 A.M. to 6:30 P.M. (ET) and on June 11 from 9:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. (ET).
- Presentation P-187, entitled Tramiprosate Is Neuroprotective and
Reduces the Levels of Secreted Amyloid-ss in Organotypic Hippocampal
Slice Cultures, will be presented by lead author Mounia Azzi.
- Andre Galarneau will present GABA-Dependent Pathways in the
Neuroprotective Effect of Tramiprosate against Amyloid-ss Toxicity
in presentation P-190.
- Barry D. Greenberg will present Tramiprosate Decreases Amyloid-ss
Induced Erk1/2 Activity in Primary Rat Neurons by a GABA-Independent
Pathway in presentation P-192.<<
snip
Cheers, Tuck |
