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Pfizer Stops Internal Discovery, Early Development Research on Alzheimer’s Disease January 2018

Pfizer Stops Internal Discovery, Early Development Research on Alzheimer’s Disease January 2018
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January 9, 2018
Email: media@alz.org
Media Line: 312.335.4078
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On behalf of the millions of people living with Alzheimer’s disease and their families that we serve and represent, the Alzheimer’s Association is disappointed that Pfizer, Inc. is ending investment in its internal discovery and early development programs (pre-clinical studies, Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials) for Alzheimer’s disease and other brain diseases.

It is important to note that much of the knowledge we have gained about potential new treatments has been from clinical trials that have failed to meet end points. These additions to the body of scientific knowledge will eventually lead to therapies that successfully slow, stop or prevent this devastating disease in the future.

We have seen a trend among “big pharma” companies – choosing to focus their resources on late stage clinical trials (Phase 2 and 3), often through partnerships, licensing agreements and outright purchases of innovative smaller companies and biotechs.

At the Alzheimer’s Association, we will not stop. We will not slow down in our fight against this terrible disease. We must redouble our efforts to better understand the causes of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, and to explore additional therapeutic targets. More than 5 million Americans are living with dementia due to by Alzheimer’s disease. By 2050, this number could rise as high as 16 million, so our efforts to change the course of Alzheimer’s disease must continue to be a priority.

The Alzheimer’s Association continues to see great progress in science, and with increased investments by the federal government in Alzheimer’s and dementia research we are confident that progress will continue to accelerate. It is with this investment in research that we will gain understanding about the causes of Alzheimer’s and other dementias, and discover new potential targets for therapies.

The Alzheimer’s Association is leading the way in efforts to investigate new treatment strategies. For example, our Part the Cloud program has invested more than $20 million to advance 23 clinical trials that are targeting a wide variety of known and potential new aspects of the disease, such as inflammation. Recently, the Alzheimer’s Association announced the 2018 launch of the U.S. Study to Protect Brain Health Through Lifestyle Intervention to Reduce Risk (U.S. POINTER); the first study of a multidimensional lifestyle intervention in a large-scale U.S.-based population. Even knowing the obstacles, we have never been as optimistic as we are today. The Alzheimer’s Association is confident that we will change the trajectory of this disease.

About the Alzheimer's Association

The Alzheimer’s Association is a worldwide voluntary health organization dedicated to Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Our mission is to lead the way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's and all other dementia®. Visit alz.org or call 800.272.3900.

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