Hope for Alzheimer's?

Published: 1-Mar-2003


German biotechnology firm BioVisioN has identified a number of marker proteins that may enable the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's, and distinguish it from other forms of dementia.

The company began investigating the volumes of peptides in cerebrospinal fluid in 1999, after entering an agreement with Roche Diagnostics. By 2000-01, the alliance had identified molecules that changed within the cerebrospinal fluid of Alzheimer's patients specifically, and several patents have been filed on the basis of these trials. Having assessed the data, Roche Diagnostics will now test large groups of patients for the presence of the most promising peptides in the serum.

Alzheimer's is often diagnosable only at an advanced stage, while current medicines are effective only at a very early stage of the disease. It is hoped that by identifying peptides found only in patients with Alzhiemer's, earlier treatments can be developed.

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