Last night the Lehrer News Hour ran a segment on Alzheimer's, including discussion of many new drugs in the pipeline. The new drugs sound very promising, but I have no idea when these can be expected to be available. If anyone has more information on availability, please post the information.

The following is the summary of their archived video:

Cases of Alzheimer's Disease Growing, Study Says

PET scan of Alzheimer's disease brain. Image courtesy of NIH
March 21, 2007
RealAudio | MP3: More than 5 million Americans live with Alzheimer's disease, 10 percent more than five years ago, according to a new study by the Alzheimer's Association.

Alzheimer's Association Vice President Stephen McConnell discusses the reasons for the rise and the latest in Alzheimer's treatment.

Alzamed is suppose to be out late 2008 or early 2009. Florizan will be available in 3 years if all goes well in the clinical trials.

I understood the 3rd trial phase of Florizan was supposed to complete Feb 2008, with product availability apr-may 2008. Any updates on that? My husband is 52 yrs old, with early onset Alzheimer's. He is diminishing quickly, and I'm looking for any hope in the NEAR future.

I'm sorry, pnichol, but drugs do not launch that quickly after clinical trials are complete. It takes months to prepare the reports and get the FDA to review them and approve a drug. Bio-Medicine had a recent article that says Flurizan will launch in 2010. And it appears that the drug was tested for treating mild cognitive impairment. A doctor could prescribe for off-label applications, but still, it doesn't sound as if this drug will be available in time for you. What I've seen of Alzhemed looked promising, but as tkb says, it won't be out for maybe a year or so.

Where do you live? Maybe there's a clinical trial your husband could participate in.

Pnichol:

Please go to NIH.com to search out clinical trials in your area. Elan/Whythe are currently enrolling for a 4000 patient phase III trial for AAb-001. They are seeking patients with MMSE scores 26-16. Elan is also doing a trial for ELN-005 I believe there will be about 1000 enrolled in phase III. Dimeron will be recruiting for a phase III as well.

Please let me know if you need any additional info.

My wife Linda spent 30 months in the Phase lll Alzhemed trial. They canceled it in January after the results did not show enough statistical improvement to be viable. My understanding is that if it is made available, it will be some kind of supplement.
When Linda started the test, her MMSE was 16, and at the end she is 1 on a good day. For her it was not helpful. She also takes Aricept.
51 is too young for this.

Nuts.

I looked up more recent articles. It appears there were problems with some studies done in different locations. Apparently, some patients swear it was extremely helpful. Others, not. There's an ongoing trial in Europe that they hope will clear up some of the confusion.

So very sorry it did not do anything to help your wife.

Hi everybody,

I want to let you know about Huperzine A. It's been used in China for many years to treat a variety of ails, among them AD. My husband is on no meds of any kind except some supplements,
Serrazyme(reduces inflammation) Gingko, Garlic,
and Huperzine A. I must say his cognition has improved greatly. He's takes 200 mcgs daily. I refuse to give him any RX's due to their harmful side effects. If this alternative treatmewnt stops working, I will consider them. I don't know how anyone feels about alternative, but I say why not? I will forward the link to Hup A if anyone is interested.

Huperzine A is a cholinesterase inhibitor, just like Aricept and Exelon. The only difference is that it is made from a plant extract, rather than chemically synthesized. There is anecdotal evidence that the drug is more readily tolerated and more effective than the other cholinesterase inhibitors for treating AD, and so there are a number of clinical trials now ongoing in the US to determine whether this is true, and what the best dosage might be.

Huperzine A is sold over-the-counter as an herbal supplement to "improve memory". "Herbal supplements" can be sold without having undergone any tests for safety or efficacy. Just because something is sold over-the-counter does NOT mean that it is safe, or without any harmful side effects, particularly if your LO is taking several different supplements. Plus the dosage and the quality of herbal supplements can vary significantly, since they are not regulated. Also, Huperzine A, like many medicines, should be started at a low dose and increased gradually over time.

Please don't dose your LO with *anything*, whether or not it requires a prescription, without consulting with a doctor first.

jdm in Texas: Your comments of February 17 on alternative medication for your DH grabbed my attention. I am new to the MB's so bear w/me; My DW, (who has AD as did her DM), and I have been married 53 years and the Lord has blessed us, but the loss she has suffered w/AD in the last 8 years is robbing her of an active life, as her health otherwise is very good.

Exlon and Namenda are the drugs of choice by her DR for AD, along with Zoloft for her depression and aggression. The steady decline, (does not even know me at times in the evening), has put me in the position of looking for alternatives to the current drugs. They drugs worked a little in the early years, but the decline to myself and our four daughters has stepped up its pace.

The seemingly success of the "Enbrel" in individual comments is attractive, and I pray for their continued success, but the treatment is not practical finicially or geographically to a mid-Ohian.

I would like to further correspond with you and your alternative experiences if you wish.

JaksJoyB@Copper.Net

JaksJoy

I have been giving my wife aricept,1 a day and nemenda 2 a day for the last 5 years she is 70 . I also give her vitamin E and Cementum (old folks vitamins) and thats it. I give her anti depressent for sleeping but not every night. Most of the time she is Ok except for walking (sundowning) but I can bath her every 3 days with few problems. But for the most part I can control her.