Oklahoma Alzheimer’s patients can help test new drug

Oklahoma City has been selected to help test the safety and effectiveness of an investigational Alzheimer’s drug aimed at slowing the disease.

Bapineuzumab, or Bapi, is designed to fight beta amyloid, a toxic protein that clumps together in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients. There is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but researchers are seeking treatments to slow down the disease’s its memory-killing progression.

"The theory is that it is made to stop the plaque formation,” said Dr. Surinder Randhawa of Lynn Health Science Institute, who will lead the Oklahoma City trial site.

"With this, they don’t have to stop any of their medications or treatments for Alzheimer’s.”

The drug is made by pharmaceutical companies Wyeth and Elan, which are in the third phase of clinical testing.

More than 2,050 volunteers are sought in 200 study sites across the U.S. and Canada. Medication will be provided at no cost, and during the 18-month study, participants will be monitored by a medical team, including a nurse or study coordinator, and a physician. About 40 percent of patients in the trial will be given a placebo, Randhawa said.

Study participants can include men and women who are 50 to 88 years old, have diagnosis of mild to moderate Alzheimer’s and have a caregiver who is willing to be involved in the study with them.

For more information, visit www.icarastudy.com or call 447-8839.