Patents for joint disease research

ELAN and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals have been issued seven patents for joint research into the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

These were issued to Neuralab, a subsidiary of Elan, by the United States Patent and Trademark office yesterday.

The news had a negative impact on the group’s shares that fell 60 cent to €19.22 as investors saw the announcement as a selling opportunity.

Six of the patents are directed to the companies’ “active immunisation” approaches for the treatment of Alzheimer’s and the seventh is directed at the “passive” end of this critical research.

“As we continue to advance our understanding of Alzheimer’s disease, it is increasingly important that we examine multiple approaches towards targeting the different parts of the disease” said Elan research and development president Lars Ekman.

“The new patents underscore this commitment and further our goal of developing treatments for this devastating disease,” he said.

In 2000, Elan and Wyeth formed a collaboration to discover, develop and commercialise immune-based therapy approaches for the prevention and treat Alzheimer’s disease.

Wyeth is a major player in drugs dealing with women’s health as well as cardiovascular disease.