Mithridion, Inc. - Breaking new ground in drugs for Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia

Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive and ultimately fatal brain disease that destroys neurons (brain cells), causing problems with memory, thinking and behavior severe enough to affect work, lifelong hobbies or social life. While not an inevitable consequence of aging, AD often is diagnosed in persons over 65 years of age and the incidence doubles with every five years of age beyond 65. Early onset subtypes of AD that might strike in the early-to mid-thirties or fifties are inherited or familial, caused by specific causative single gene mutations, and account for a few percent of all AD. The cause of the more common, later onset type of AD is not known. There is a genetic component, but it is more complex and not due to single gene mutations.

The five drugs approved by FDA provide improve memory and cognition. They provide modest symptomatic relief of limited duration for a proportion of patients. According to the approved labeling, none of the current drugs halt or slow down the disease processes. Inexorable loss of neurons is the ultimate cause of memory loss, cognitive decline and death in AD. The main unmet clinical needs are therefore to restore cognitive function and to prevent neuron loss.

This devastating condition affects today more than 5 million Americans and an estimated 26 million people worldwide. The incidence is predicted to increase because of the gradual “graying” of the population in developed countries, and the “baby boomers” reaching their mid-sixties. AD takes its toll not only on sufferers, but also on their families and caregivers, who often are spouses or other family members.

The unmet clinical need and market opportunity are immense. The current world market is $4.1 billion and is expected to grow to $10 billion over the next decade, fuelled by demographics. Successful drugs that control the disease and improve function should create huge savings and reduce the large and growing burden on individuals and society.