Comprehensive Alzheimer's Drug is Licensed
Thursday, April 15, 2010
By: Kevin Hattori

Ladostigil -- a novel compound designed to provide comprehensive medical treatment for Alzheimer's disease -- is one step closer to reaching the market. Born in the minds and labs of the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology's Prof. Moussa B.H. Youdim and Hebrew University Prof. Marta Weinstock-Rosin, the drug in animal studies provided symptomatic anti-Alzheimer's, anti-Parkinson's and anti-depressant activities, and the potential to improve behavioral and psychological dementia symptoms, such as depression, anxiety and extrapyramidal symptoms.

Ladostigil was developed as a derivative of the anti-Parkinson’s disease drug rasagiline (Azilect), which is thought to possess disease modifying activity to slow the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease for sustained periods of time and to modify the pathology associated with the disease.  The cholinesterase, brain-selective monoamine oxidase inhibitor and neuroprotective agent has already been proven safe and well tolerated in Phase I/IIa clinical trials.

Prof. Moussa Youdim

The exclusive commercial rights for the Ladostigil – the first multi-functional anti-Alzheimer’s disease drug to reach clinical trials – have been granted to Avraham Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. by the Technion Research and Development Foundation (TRDF) and Yissum Research Development Company Ltd., the technology transfer arms of the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology and the Hebrew University, respectively.

The drug and its development are a collaborative effort between Prof. Youdim of the Technion’s Eve Topf and National Parkinson Foundation Centers of Excellence in the Faculty of Medicine and Prof. Weinstock-Rosin of the School of Pharmacy at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. 

The Technion-Israel Institute of Technology is Israel's leading science and technology university.  Home to the country's winners of the Nobel Prize in science, it commands a worldwide reputation for its pioneering work in nanotechnology, computer science, biotechnology, water-resource management, materials engineering, aerospace and medicine.  The majority of the founders and managers of Israel's high-tech companies are alumni. Based in New York City, the American Technion Society (ATS) is the leading American organization supporting higher education in Israel, with offices around the country.