USA2 SPOTLIGHT

(ICYMI) A January 7, 2018 USA Today article focused on “anticipatory loss,” the anguish, sadness, anxiety, dread and grief which can accompany aging. It can evolve over an extended period of time, even years, especially in the case of serious illness such as dementia. Read about UsAgainstAlzheimer’s Advocate Daisy Duarte’s story here, and the UsA2 report, “Hiding in Plain Sight: Social and Demographic Trends that Will Exacerbate the Impact of Alzheimer’s” here. 

MUST READS

A January 11, 2018 Newsweek article looked at the Arc protein. It acts like a virus infecting host cells, meaning cells within the brain have a heretofore unknown method of communicating with one another. This could rewrite our understanding of human learning and memory formation, including dementia and Alzheimer's disease research. Jason Shepherd of Utah Health and colleagues are now studying the role that Arc may play in AD.

A January 11, 2018 The Guardian opinion piece by Professor Bart De Strooper of the UK Dementia Research Institute implores big pharma to stay the course in efforts to treat or cure Alzheimer’s disease, in the wake of Pfizer’s announcement to pull-out of neuroscience research. According to De Strooper, “Pharmaceutical companies are absolutely essential to this effort. They are a critical part of the process that will eventually lead to the right drugs. That’s not to say that pharma should just do more of the same and repeat the failed experiments of yesterday. It’s time to step back from the costly phase three clinical trials and to look afresh at the basic biology of these diseases. But above all we need big pharma to stay the course; come on this journey with us to improve the lives of so many.”

INDUSTRY UPDATE

A January 11, 2018 In-Pharma Technologist article announced that Eisai, the Japanese drug firm, completed construction of a drug manufacturing facility in Suzhou, China. It will produce the Alzheimer’s disease pill Aricept (donepezil). 

According to a January 11, 2018 BioPharm International article, Takeda Pharmaceuticals and Denali Therapeutics entered into a collaboration to develop and commercialize therapeutic product candidates for neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s. They will sell products in the United States and China.