Saturday, September 12, 2009

Dimebon, a new miracle treatment for Alzheimers?!

I saw something about Dimebon last week, on my laptop,stupidly didn't bookmark it.  Then I had to clear my cache and cookies and things after a media player upgrade installed a pop-up server, and I lost the site.  Imagine my surprise to realize that someone trying to promote it had already gotten in touch with me and I hadn't realized it!  I was going through piles of messages about World Alzheimer's Day (see previous post) and there it was, not one but TWO notes.   Sometimes I am such a blonde!
There is a blogspot blog about studies on Dimebon in Australia--they are the ones who told me about the CONCERT study.   The Medivation, Inc site says Phase III studies are looking for people NOW. 
Details from Medivation:
Dimebon is an orally-available, small molecule that has been shown to inhibit brain cell death in preclinical models relevant to Alzheimer’s disease and Huntington’s disease, making it a potential treatment for these and other neurodegenerative diseases. Based on clinical and preclinical data generated to date, Medivation believes that Dimebon works through a novel mechanism of action improving mitochondria function.
Let's say that again.   Inhibit brain death.   The hideous atrophy.   Oh, if only someone can now come up with an easy way to diagnose it before someone's brain is atrophied by a third and they are showing obvious symptoms!
If you or your loved one wants to test this drug, please contact them.  For the most part my father's experience with clinical testing was positive for him and for the family.  Even though he ultimately ended up with the placebo, I still feel it was worthwhile.
The CONCERT Study, a Phase 3 Trial of Dimebon (Latrepirdine) in Patients with Mild-to-Moderate Alzheimer’s Disease Who are Currently Taking Aricept® (Donepezil), is Now Actively Recruiting Patients. Study Highlights:
  • International, double-blind, placebo-controlled safety and efficacy study
  • Designed to determine whether dimebon, when taken in combination with Aricept®, safely improves memory, thinking and awareness, daily functioning, behavior, and the ability to care for oneself
  • Enrolling 1,050 patients at sites in the United States, Europe, Australia and New Zealand
  • Patients aged 50 and older with a clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, who are currently taking Aricept®, may be eligible to participate
  • Two-thirds of patients will receive dimebon and one-third will receive placebo
  • All patients who complete the 52-week study, including those taking placebo, will be able to take part in another study where they receive Dimebon at no financial cost until the drug is approved
For more information on CONCERT study locations, eligibility and enrollment, please visit www.concertstudy.com or call toll-free 1-877-888-6386.
In Australia, call 1-800-235-526 or visit www.concertstudy.com

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the info.

elanor said...

thanks for this information, I hadn't heard about this study,

Mirina from DatelineMedia Group said...

Hello Gevera!
Thank you so much for linking to our blog and writing a post all about the CONCERT study, trialing the new Alzheimer's drug dimebon. For your down-under readers here in AU the toll free hot-line is 1-800-235-526.
Here in AU we are currently open for enrollments and looking for 1500 patients to join the phase III trial.
Keep up the great info flow, your blog is inspiring,
Mirina

Men of Men said...

I really really enjoy the articles on this blog. After caring for my great grandfather for over a year I built the site AlzMall.com. I am really looking for those who are passionate about Alzheimer's care to contribute articles, stories, or just general information to my site.

eml256 said...

i would very much like to join the austrlian study on dimebon blog, though the link you provide only allows one to sign in, not join. given my limited computer expertise, i am unable to access how to join the blog referenced. coul dyou halp me? thanks, madelyn