New Drug for Alzheimer's Disease to Be Tested

International study at 40 sites needs volunteers

THURSDAY, July 8, 2004 (HealthDayNews) -- A potential new drug to treat Alzheimer's is being studied by researchers at about 40 sites around the world, including 34 in the United States.

Researchers are enrolling Alzheimer's patients with mild to moderate memory loss in the 12-week study to compare different doses of the drug -- which has no name -- to a placebo.

"We want to see if this drug will improve cognition or memory in Alzheimer's disease," Dr. Jeffrey L. Rausch, vice chairman of the department of psychiatry and health behavior at the Medical College of Georgia, said in a prepared statement.

Rausch is one of the study's principal investigators.

This new drug, developed by Sanofi-Synthelabo, Inc. of France, may reduce the accumulation of destructive plaque that is the hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. Previous research found that the drug appears to improve memory and learning in animals.

More information

The U.S. National Institute on Aging has more about Alzheimer's disease.

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