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European Pharmaceutical Contractor
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With increasing patient numbers and the limitations of existing therapies, the Alzheimer's disease (AD) market is an attractive investment with huge unmet need. However, following the withdrawal of Elan's vaccine, Betabloc, and disappointing pivotal trial results of NeoTherapeutics' neurotrophic drug, Neotrofin, the late stage AD drug pipeline looks bleak. Nevertheless, a number of biotech companies are developing an array of innovative technologies to treat a disease that currently affects around 13 million elderly people across the seven major pharmaceutical markets - namely the US, Japan, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK. The most promising drugs are those that aim to slow, halt or even reverse disease progression via modulation of beta-amyloid - a protein which many experts believe is the core of AD pathology. Nevertheless, patients will have to wait several years before truly groundbreaking treatments are made available.
A Highly Prevalent and Debilitating Brain Disorder
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, characterised by the loss of mental function in older people. Affecting over one million people in the UK alone, the health care costs associated with the disease are vast, and with life expectancy increasing, AD is certain to become a global health burden in the next 20 to 30 years. AD progresses in stages, gradually destroying memory, reason, judgment, language and eventually the ability to carry out even the simplest of tasks.
In addition to histological changes within the brain, the disease has been linked with deficiencies in several neurotransmitters, the most important of which being acetylcholine (ACh), associated with a loss of cholinergic neurons. Currently, there is only one AD drug class available to treat the disease, the acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs), which work by inhibiting the enzyme that breaks down ACh in the brain.
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By Ben Greener, Neurology Analyst at Datamonitor
Ben Greener is a Neurology Analyst at Datamonitor. He joined the company in April 2001, and has since authored a number of market analysis reports for the company in the field of CNS. In particular, Ben has focused on the expanding neurology markets, with emphasis on large therapeutic areas such as Alzheimer's disease. For example, Ben has provided comprehensive analysis on current marketing strategies, treatment algorithms and drug R&D pipelines, and surveyed opinion leaders and health care specialists from across the seven leading pharmaceutical markets.
During his time at university, Ben specialised in several areas of neuroscience, including topics such as brain diseases, developmental neurobiology and neurogastroenterology. Ben holds a BSc Hons degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Sheffield.
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Small Scale Biomanufacturing – clinical trials, cell & gene therapies
18 September 2008, Clifton Pavilion, Bristol Zoo Gardens, Bristol
This one day conference, sponsored by bioProcessUK and organised by BioApproaches South West, will cover key, important topics relating to small scale GMP biomanufacturing.
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Azopharma Product Development Group, Inc
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – Azopharma Product Development Group, Inc. (“Azopharma”) announced today the addition of innovative state-of-the-art equipment at its formulation and manufacturing division, ApiCross Drug Delivery Technologies in Hollywood, Florida. The most recent acquisition is the MG Futura Capsule Filler which delivers the latest in capsule filling technology. The company has also added a Bausch & Strobel Aseptic Filling Isolator, equipment that is ground-breaking in the powder filling process. These additions support our previously implemented XcelodoseTM powder micro-dosing system. With these technologies, Azopharma is able to provide its clients with all forms of the capsule filling process. The new equipment is part of Azopharma’s recent manufacturing expansion which includes 17 new manufacturing suites for GMP, cytotoxic and aseptic products...
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