AffiRiS is reporting today research results in which they claim the first drug trial ever to demonstrate both clinical and biomarker effects consistent with disease modification for Alzheimers patients. The results were truly impressive and are important to PwP because they have a similar ongoing study for Parkinson's (funded by MJFF). They will report those results in a few months.

What is startling and confusing, though, about the trial, and not well reported in their press release, is that the substance showing these great statistically significant results was the PLACEBO (AD04), not the actual trial drug being tested (AD02). The results, for the first time ever, met both the FDA and EMA criteria for disease modification. With the use of a biomarker in the hippocampus, they were able to prove that this wasn't just a placebo effect.

Forty-seven percent of those who received AD04 exhibited what the company called "effects consistent with disease modification" for at least 18 months. Moreover, the cessation of disease progression was correlated with a stabilization of hippocampus volumes.

The company doesn't really know why they got the effect as the new "drug" was in no way related to the test drug. They will not even say what the drug is because, at this time, they don't even have a patent on it.

Medical history of accidental major breakthroughs has happened in the past, so this certainly will make us all focus on the PD trial results with great interest.

http://bit.ly/1hghALZ