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Morning News

Alzheimer's Vaccine Encouraging in Phase-One Trials

Aired July 11, 2000 - 10:01 a.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: But first, news about the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Scientists say an experimental vaccine that shows remarkable promise has cleared a critical test.

CNN medical correspondent Rhonda Rowland is now joining us from Washington. She is at a key conference, she's been attending, she has details -- Rhonda.

RHONDA ROWLAND, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Daryn, the first experimental vaccine designed to fight Alzheimer's disease appears to be safe in humans, at least so far.

Scientists with Elan Pharmaceuticals say their phase-one trials, designed to assess safety, are encouraging.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. DALE SCHENK, ELAN PHARMACEUTICALS: In the U.S., we've done single dose studies and they are nearly complete, and so far things have gone remarkably well. We've not encountered any problems at all in Alzheimer's patients themselves.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROWLAND: The vaccine, called AN1792, is designed to stimulate the immune system to clear the characteristic brain plaques that many believe is the cause of the disease. One year ago, Elan scientists reported dramatic results of the vaccine in mice. Those immunized at a young age were protected from Alzheimer's. In those mice who had already had the disease, the disease was halted and in some cases reversed.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. IVAN LIEBERBURG, CHIEF SCIENCE AND MEDICAL OFFICER, ELAN CORP.: Assuming everything works out, this vaccine not only will treat Alzheimer's disease, but will also prevent Alzheimer's disease. It will completely change the face of Alzheimer therapeutics now and forever, if it works.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROWLAND: The U.S. safety study is nearly complete. A study in the U.K. is still under way. When this phase of the study is complete, about 100 patients will have been treated with the vaccine -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Rhonda, is the long-term goal here that this will be a vaccine that everybody will get? or just people who show signs of getting Alzheimer's? or genetically, you're predisposed to getting this disease? who would eventually get this?

ROWLAND: Well, Daryn, it's really far too soon to even say. Because they're still trying to make sure that the vaccine is indeed safe. The next step of this, of course, is to test it in a larger number of people in a greater number of centers to see if it actually works. And then they will be able to see. And yes, ideally they would love to have a treatment that you could give to people that you think are predisposed or showing the very earliest signs of Alzheimer's. But that is still going to be some years away. But it's encouraging nonetheless.

KAGAN: That it is. Rhonda Rowland, in Washington, thank you very much.

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