Fillit

It can cost $1.2 billion to bring a new drug to market, Fillit says.

Researchers hope to quell a surge of Alzheimer's cases with new diagnostic tools 2010

"We give this money for a very specific purpose, and we want specific milestones," Fillit said.

Researchers hope to quell a surge of Alzheimer's cases with new diagnostic tools 2010

"Creating knowledge is a long way from making drugs," acknowledges Fillit of the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation, which invests in start-up biotech firms, existing companies and academic research.

Researchers hope to quell a surge of Alzheimer's cases with new diagnostic tools 2010

Fillit said scientists aren't yet sure if the plaque causes the disruption or is just a scar left by the brain as it degenerates.

The Seattle Times 2010

"If the drugs can remove the plaque, it should slow the rate of the disease," Fillit said.

The Seattle Times 2010

"However, most patients with Alzheimer's do not have 'pure' AD but have multiple comorbidities that may contribute to dementia, including vascular comorbidities that should be addressed if high cholesterol is present and treatment is indicated in any event to prevent cardiovascular disease and/or stroke," Fillit said.

theHeart.org 2009

The plaque is believed to be toxic to the brain, causing cell death over time and a progressive loss of cognitive function, Fillit said.

unknown title 2009

If the clinical trial shows that IVIg is beneficial, it could be a potent new weapon against Alzheimer's, treating the underlying cause of the disease rather than just the symptoms, Fillit said.

unknown title 2009

Gouras G, Fillit H (2006) Neurogenesis as a therapeutic strategy for cognitive aging and Alzheimer's disease.

PLoS Biology: New Articles 2008