Bayer Says Alzheimer’s Disease Test Works in Trial

Bayer says it is developing a test that has so far proven it can detect Alzheimer’s disease in 80 percent of patients who participated in a clinical study.

While additional late-stage trials of the marker florbetaben are planned, Bayer said the test could one day dramatically increase the ability to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease at an early stage. Currently, Alzheimer’s disease is detected by signs of memory loss, impaired movement, and reduced language abilities. Only examination of the brain tissue after death can conclusively diagnose Alzheimer’s, a progressive and fatal brain disease which is a leading cause of dementia.

When injected into the body, florbetaben highlights beta-amyloid plaques — which are linked to Alzheimer’s disease. When patients’ brains are viewed under a positron emission tomography (PET) scan, the presence of florbetaben makes it easier to detect the plaques and diagnose Alzheimer’s disease.

Bayer said the results of a Phase II study involving 213 participants studied using florbetaben found the test detected the illness in eight out of 10 cases. The study also found that florbetaben ruled out people who were Alzheimer free in nine out of 10 cases.

More than five million Americans and as many as 26 people worldwide have Alzheimer’s disease, and their ranks are expected to swell to 100 million by 2050, Bayer officials said.

Currently, there are few treatment options for patients with Alzheimer’ disease. The drugs Aricept, Exelon, Ebixa, and Reminyl are used for some patients.

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