Article in herald sun today. Australian drug to be trialled in...

Article in herald sun today.

Australian drug to be trialled in bid to stop Alzheimer’s disease

Grant McArthur, Herald Sun
July 29, 2016 12:00am

AN Australian-developed drug designed to limit production of a stress hormone is to be trialled as a means of halting the impact of Alzheimer’s disease.

Results of early testing for experimental drug Xanamem were unveiled at a gathering of international dementia experts in Toronto last night, showing the drug was able to cut the production of the stress hormone, cortisol, by half.

Research released by other Australian scientists at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference this week reaffirms strong links between increased levels of cortisol in a person’s blood and their risk of suffering Alzheimer’s.

Detailing the results of two phase 1 studies showing Xanamem had significantly inhibited the production of cortisol in healthy volunteers, Actinogen chief executive Dr Bill Ketelbey said his company hoped to begin phase 2 trials in 200 patients in Australia, the UK and the US.


Research released by Australian scientists at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference this week reaffirms strong links between increased levels of cortisol and a risk of suffering Alzheimer’s.
“Excess cortisol over the long-term is problematic and does cause disease and, as shown by the group from Melbourne, is associated with the development of Alzheimer’s disease,” Dr Ketelbey said.

“Our drug is designed to bring excess cortisol production down to this normal physiological band that we all need, and that we all need.”

The Toronto gathering also heard a collaboration of Australian researchers, led by Melbourne’s Florey Institute, release results of the Australian Imaging, Biomarker & Lifestyle Flagship Study of Ageing, which suggested that therapies able to lower plasma cortisol levels may help mitigate cognitive decline.