On-going phase II trial of octagam in AD to be discussed at ICAD 2010

The on-going phase II trial on Octapharma's 10% intravenous immunoglobulin octagam®10% will be a topic at the up-coming International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease (ICAD 2010) to take place in Honolulu, Hawaii from July 10 to 15. Researchers from around the globe will attend ICAD to share groundbreaking research and information on the cause, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders.

“Prospective 24-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter study evaluating safety and efficacy in mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease under treatment with increasing dosages of intravenous immunoglobulin (octagam® 10%)”

Octapharma's trial entitled "Prospective 24-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter study evaluating safety and efficacy in mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease under treatment with increasing dosages of intravenous immunoglobulin (octagam® 10%)" and lead by the principal investigator Prof. Richard Dodel, Philips-University, Marburg, Germany, investigates the effects of octagam®10% in Alzheimer's Disease (AD). The trial's aims are to identify the optimal IVIG dose and treatment interval for maximizing potential therapeutic effects on various biochemical and clinical parameters in AD patients. The trial will advance our understanding of Aβ- and tau-mediated neurodegeneration in AD. The completion of the trial is expected for September 2010.

Prof. Martin Farlow, Indiana University, Indianapolis, principal investigator for the USA, authors and will present the related poster during the ICAD 2010 conference.

AD is the most common form of dementia among the elderly population representing the fourth leading cause of death in the developed world. Substantial cost implications are related to AD and other dementia, being estimated in the US at USD148 billion for direct and indirect costs, not including an estimated USD 94 billion in unpaid services provided annually (Alzheimer's Association).