In 1st trial, drug halts progress of illness

By Jim Killackey

Published: January 15, 2008

Using humans in clinical trials for the first time, local scientists found that an experimental drug to treat Alzheimer's disease is safe and effective in halting progression of the memory-robbing illness.

"This is a significant milestone and an unquestionable success. It's groundbreaking,” said Dr. Jordan Tang with the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation. He helped develop the experimental drug.

"We are stepping onto uncharted paths in Alzheimer's treatment and seeing wonderful results so far. Hopefully, this drug will make a real difference and help stop this disease one day,” said Tang, who is head of the Protein Studies Research Program at OMRF.

An estimated 62,000 Oklahomans are in the various stages of Alzheimer's disease, with dementia ranging from mild to severe.

The experimental drug, CTS-21166, was given to 50 healthy Salt Lake City volunteers. The drug was given by injection; pills will be used in the next phase of research.

Results of the human trials showed CTS-21166 to be safe and well-tolerated in humans at various dose levels, Tang said.

While the clinical trials continue, Tang and his colleagues will work on the next generation of drugs to combat Alzheimer's. "This is not a one-shot deal. We will keep working to build an arsenal to fight this deadly disease,” Tang said.

Advancements toward a cure or vaccine for Alzheimer's could take at least 15 years, or less if drugs move more quickly through approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Tang said.

"It would be great if people could take one pill a day and push the onset of the disease back indefinitely,” Tang said. "This is another milestone toward that goal.”

The Central Oklahoma Alzheimer's Association helped fund the project.

"We are encouraged to know that the initial stage of human testing has been successful.

When finding a cure is the goal, then every success — and failure — leads the research community toward the final destination of ridding the world of Alzheimer's,” said Mark Fried, regional director of the Central Oklahoma Alzheimer's Association.

Oklahoma is estimated to have 4,000 to 5,000 more Alzheimer's patients by 2010.

"The number of Oklahoma families facing the challenges of Alzheimer's shows that the disease is an escalating epidemic,” Fried said.

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