Published on March 1, 2010 at 1:23 AM
Elan Corporation, plc (NYSE: ELN) today announced that findings from a
Phase II study which suggested bapineuzumab reduced amyloid-beta
deposits in the brains of Alzheimer’s disease patients as measured using
a neuroimaging technique known as [11C]PiB PET, were
published in the February 28, 2010 online edition of Lancet Neurology.
Bapineuzumab is a compound under development by Pfizer and Janssen
Alzheimer Immunotherapy, a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary in which Elan
holds a minority equity interest.
“The potential to use [11C]PiB
PET imaging to monitor the effectiveness of potential therapeutics on
amyloid beta load during treatment could play a major role in
Alzheimer’s research and future clinical trial designs.”
The findings of the study further suggest that it may be possible to
assess and monitor the effects of potential therapeutic agents on
amyloid-beta deposits in patients with Alzheimer’s disease using this
neuroimaging technique.
Patients in the study were randomized to either bapineuzumab treatment
or placebo groups. Estimated mean [11C]PiB retention ratio
change from baseline to week 78 was -0.09 in the bapineuzumab group and
+0.15 in the placebo group. The estimated mean difference in [11C]PiB
retention ratio change from baseline to week 78 between the bapineuzumab
group and the placebo group was -0.24. Differences between the
bapineuzumab group and the placebo group in the individual regions of
interest were similar to the overall mean difference.
“We are encouraged by the findings of this study,” said Dr. Menghis
Bairu, Chief Medical Officer for Elan. “The potential to use [11C]PiB
PET imaging to monitor the effectiveness of potential therapeutics on
amyloid beta load during treatment could play a major role in
Alzheimer’s research and future clinical trial designs.”
SOURCE Elan Corporation