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Pharma giant Pfizer pulls out of research into Alzheimer's | Pharma giant Pfizer pulls out of research into Alzheimer's |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Drug company Pfizer has announced it is pulling out of research into drugs to treat Alzheimer's disease. | Drug company Pfizer has announced it is pulling out of research into drugs to treat Alzheimer's disease. |
The US-based pharmaceutical giant said it would be ending its neuroscience discovery programmes following a review, and 300 jobs would be lost. | The US-based pharmaceutical giant said it would be ending its neuroscience discovery programmes following a review, and 300 jobs would be lost. |
The Alzheimer's Society called the news "disappointing" and a "heavy blow" to those living with dementia. | The Alzheimer's Society called the news "disappointing" and a "heavy blow" to those living with dementia. |
Companies should be encouraged to invest in research into neuroscience, Alzheimer's Research UK said. | Companies should be encouraged to invest in research into neuroscience, Alzheimer's Research UK said. |
The move means Pfizer will also stop looking for treatments for Parkinson's disease, but the company said it planned to create a new fund dedicated to neuroscience research in the future. | The move means Pfizer will also stop looking for treatments for Parkinson's disease, but the company said it planned to create a new fund dedicated to neuroscience research in the future. |
A statement from the company said: "We have made the decision to end our neuroscience discovery and early development efforts and re-allocate funding to those areas where we have strong scientific leadership and that will allow us to provide the greatest impact for patients." | A statement from the company said: "We have made the decision to end our neuroscience discovery and early development efforts and re-allocate funding to those areas where we have strong scientific leadership and that will allow us to provide the greatest impact for patients." |
Complex brain | Complex brain |
Prof Tara Spire-Jones, a neuroscientist at Edinburgh University, told the Today programme on BBC Radio 4 that despite the decision, there was still a lot of hope. | Prof Tara Spire-Jones, a neuroscientist at Edinburgh University, told the Today programme on BBC Radio 4 that despite the decision, there was still a lot of hope. |
"Not all pharmaceutical companies are pulling out and there are over 100 clinical trials at the moment. | "Not all pharmaceutical companies are pulling out and there are over 100 clinical trials at the moment. |
"There is a lot going on in the basic science - we need to understand the complexity of the brain." | "There is a lot going on in the basic science - we need to understand the complexity of the brain." |
She said Pfizer's decision was understandable because of the failure rate of clinical trials. | She said Pfizer's decision was understandable because of the failure rate of clinical trials. |
"More than 99% of trials for Alzheimer's drugs have failed in past 15 years. | "More than 99% of trials for Alzheimer's drugs have failed in past 15 years. |
"So companies are justifiably cautious, but we are making great advances on the scientific front." | "So companies are justifiably cautious, but we are making great advances on the scientific front." |
Prof Spire-Jones added: "We've learned from these failures of trials that we need to take a step back and understand brain changes. | Prof Spire-Jones added: "We've learned from these failures of trials that we need to take a step back and understand brain changes. |
"At the moment we don't fully understand how memory and thinking work fully in a healthy brain." | "At the moment we don't fully understand how memory and thinking work fully in a healthy brain." |
Pharmaceutical companies including Novartis, Janssen, Biogen, Abbvie and Eli Lilly are still developing medicines to treat Alzheimer's disease and a spokesman for the ABPI (Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry) said they continued "to make progress in unravelling the complexities of the brain and identifying the underpinnings of the disease". | |
Could drugs delay the diseases of ageing? | Could drugs delay the diseases of ageing? |
What are the secrets of the superagers? | What are the secrets of the superagers? |
Dr James Pickett, head of research at Alzheimer's Society, said: "Of course it's disappointing to hear that Pfizer, one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies, will be terminating their research efforts in neuroscience, including Alzheimer's disease drug discovery. | Dr James Pickett, head of research at Alzheimer's Society, said: "Of course it's disappointing to hear that Pfizer, one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies, will be terminating their research efforts in neuroscience, including Alzheimer's disease drug discovery. |
"The brain is the most complex organ in the body and developing drugs to treat brain diseases is a tremendous challenge, but with no new drug for dementia in the last 15 years, this will come as a heavy blow to the estimated 46.8 million people currently living with the condition across the globe." | "The brain is the most complex organ in the body and developing drugs to treat brain diseases is a tremendous challenge, but with no new drug for dementia in the last 15 years, this will come as a heavy blow to the estimated 46.8 million people currently living with the condition across the globe." |
Long-term commitment | Long-term commitment |
The Alzheimer's Society said it had committed £50m to fund new research at the UK Dementia Research Institute alongside Alzheimer's Research UK and the Medical Research Council. | The Alzheimer's Society said it had committed £50m to fund new research at the UK Dementia Research Institute alongside Alzheimer's Research UK and the Medical Research Council. |
Dr Matthew Norton, director of policy at Alzheimer's Research UK, said: "We hope that pharmaceutical companies will look at the long-term potential when deciding whether to participate in this effort. | Dr Matthew Norton, director of policy at Alzheimer's Research UK, said: "We hope that pharmaceutical companies will look at the long-term potential when deciding whether to participate in this effort. |
"It is vital that all of us - charities, government and industry alike - make long-term commitments to dementia research if we are to bring an end to the fear, harm and heartbreak of dementia." | "It is vital that all of us - charities, government and industry alike - make long-term commitments to dementia research if we are to bring an end to the fear, harm and heartbreak of dementia." |
Currently, about 850,000 people in the UK have a form of dementia. | Currently, about 850,000 people in the UK have a form of dementia. |
One million people are predicted to be living with the condition by 2021, and this could rise to two million by 2051. | One million people are predicted to be living with the condition by 2021, and this could rise to two million by 2051. |