First Ever Disease-Modifying Drugs Will Account For Nearly 60% Of Market To Treat Alzheimer's Disease In 2015

Decision Resources, Inc., one
of the world's leading research and advisory firms for pharmaceutical and
healthcare issues, finds that Neurochem's Alzhemed (tramiprosate) and
Myriad Genetics' Flurizan (R-flurbiprofen) will account for nearly 60% of
the market to treat Alzheimer's disease in 2015. Both drugs have shown
promise in early clinical development, and will be the first treatments for
Alzheimer's disease that modify the course of the disease. Both agents will
reach the U.S. market in 2008 and the European market by 2010.


The new Pharmacor report entitled Alzheimer's Disease finds that
Alzhemed and Flurizan will account for 46% and 13% of sales, respectively,
in the major pharmaceutical markets in 2015. The report also measures the
extent to which upcoming patent expiries will reduce the market shares of
the current mainstay classes of drugs used to treat Alzheimer's
disease-acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) and N-methyl-aspartate
(NMDA) receptor antagonists. Drugs in these classes include Eisai/Pfizer's
donepezil, Novartis/Sigma-Tau/Esteve's rivastigmine, Merz's Axura, and
Lundbeck's Ebixa.


"AChEIs and NMDAs stabilize or modestly delay the cognitive decline
that Alzheimer's disease patients experience, but these agents lack true
disease-modifying potential," said Kate Hohenberg, director at Decision
Resources, Inc. "The need for more effective drugs for Alzheimer's disease
is so crucial that any agents that receive regulatory approval will capture
market share. Alzhemed and Flurizan will likely show variable efficacy, but
they will still capture a significant portion of the market to treat
Alzheimer's disease."


About Alzheimer's Disease


Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, neurodegenerative disease
characterized by significant loss of function in more than one cognitive
domain including memory, reasoning, and judgment. In the United States,
France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Japan, prevalent
cases numbered more than 5.7 million in 2005.


About Decision Resources


Decision Resources, Inc. (decisionresources) is a world
leader in market research publications, advisory services, and consulting
designed to help clients shape strategy, allocate resources, and master
their chosen markets.


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