June 25, 2007

Jeer to Alzheimer's Association statement

The Integrity In Science Project of the Center for Science in the Public Interest delivers a "jeer to the article in the June issue of the AARP Bulletin highlighting Alzheimer’s Disease drugs under development. The story prominently quoted Sam Gandy, chair of the National Medical and Scientific Advisory Council of the Alzheimer's Association and director of the Farber Institute for Neurosciences in Philadelphia, unequivocally stating that disease-altering drugs will be available within three years with Neurochem’s Alzhemed possibly approved as early as next year. What the 20 million-circulation paper didn’t report is that the Farber Institute is one of many sites conducting final clinical trials on Neurochem’s Alzhemed."

In the article, Gandy says, "Within three years, it's all but certain we'll have disease-modifying drugs that fundamentally change the nature of Alzheimer's."

Nothing in science is all but certain three years out.

Posted by schwitz at June 25, 2007 08:12 AM | TrackBack
Comments

OK, I'll bite..

People get tired and bored of supporting basic research in the biomedical sciences. No new taxes and all that. So OurLeaders have to come up with nifty campaigns like translational research or roadmaps for research in able to whip up flagging interest. (Driven to Discover, anyone?)

Unfortunately, it is a lot harder to come up with new therapeutic agents than anyone really likes to admit. From what you hear, all sorts of cures are just lurking around the corner just waiting for more money in order to be discovered. The naivete in academia concerning this is astonishing. Nevertheless, Academic Health Centers around the country - including ours - like to trumpet that the cure is just around the corner, for AIDs, for Alzheimer's, for cancer (for death?)...

Given the ugly funding environment, I guess it is too much to expect OurLeaders to be honest about what is going on. So do not be surprised if Big Pharma, Academic Health Centers around the country and the AARP are not exactly candid here.

Bonzo

Posted by: Bill Gleason at June 25, 2007 06:32 PM

Thanks to Bush's Administration. No quick qure for Alzheimers disease after they refuse to grant the bill on testing of embryos.

Posted by: Edmund at July 22, 2007 10:31 AM
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