|
23 January 2002. Elan Corporation announced last Thursday that it would temporarily
suspend further drug administration in the clinical phase 2A trial of its therapeutic
vaccine AN-1792, made of synthetic Aβ1-42
peptide. Four patients have fallen ill with what appears to be central nervous
system inflammation.
Yesterday the company offered no new information, citing their ongoing clinical
investigation of whether the patients' inflammation is related to the study
drug. To date, about 360 people have received multiple intramuscular injections
of this drug. A previous safety trial in about 80 people, reported last July,
found no serious side effects, however, other scientists in the field have on
occasion questioned the safety of injecting elderly people with Aβ1-42.
The current trial is being conducted in the U.S., Switzerland, Spain, the UK,
and France. All four patients who developed inflammation are in France, where
a total of 97 patients are currently enrolled, a company spokesman said. The
company emphasizes that the trial is still ongoing and that its dosing regimen
is spaced far enough apart so that it could resume once the clinical investigation
is complete. The Alzheimer Research Forum will monitor this important story.—Gabrielle Strobel.
Related links:
ARF news items
Aβ
Vaccination Roundup: So Far So Good
A
Kinder, Gentler Alzheimer's Vaccine?
AN1792
drug sheet
|
Home
A Kinder, Gentler Alzheimer's Vaccine?
