Alzheimer's disease: an opportunity for expansion?

Alzheimer's disease is reaching epidemic proportions. However, less than half of those affected seek diagnosis, mistakenly believing that there are no effective treatments available. With the number of sufferers set to triple in the next 30-40 years, many drug companies are battling to grab a share of this lucrative market, but will they be able to develop drugs effective enough to capitalize?

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Curalogic: closer to entering the immunotherapy arena

Curalogic has initiated a phase III trial with its product for oral immunotherapy of ragweed allergy. While traditional disease-modifying immunotherapeutics are administered by subcutaneous injection, Curalogic is developing a more convenient orally administered drug. Despite this advantage, a licensing-deal with a large respiratory player will be essential to exploit the drug's full potential.

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Ferring: strong R&D base for next generation incontinence treatment

Ferring's next generation of antidiuretics to treat urinary incontinence could make use of pioneering research by Nobel Laureate Professor Agre. The company's close relationship with academia and its own long history of research in the urinary incontinence field should strengthen its position as a leading urology player.

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Lundbeck/Merz: the first drug for severe Alzheimer's

Lundbeck, which has in-licensed the drug from Merz, aims to launch Ebixa this year. It is the first approved treatment for severe AD. The high patient potential in this segment of the AD market will likely bring the drug's manufacturers strong returns. However, market leadership may be short lived: the makers of current AD drugs expect approvals for severe AD by the end of 2003.

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Lundbeck: moving into the MAb market through Genmab deal

CNS therapy specialist Lundbeck has signed a collaborative agreement with fellow Danish company Genmab, a specialist in monoclonal antibody development, in a deal worth up E7.5m. Lundbeck's drive to diversify its portfolio with this early-stage deal will be keenly followed by the industry, as the search for novel targets in small molecule-dominated therapy areas continues.

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Lundbeck: the success of nalmefene is dependent upon access to treatment

Nalmefene, Lundbeck's pipeline drug designed to control and limit alcohol intake in patients with alcohol dependence, has successfully completed the first of its pivotal Phase III trials. With just one further trial slated before regulatory approval, perhaps the greatest challenge for Lundbeck will be enabling adequate provision of resources and funding for the treatment of alcohol dependence.

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Novo Nordisk/Dr Reddy's: cancer fears freeze diabetes drug

Novo Nordisk has suspended human trials of ragaglitazar, after discovering tumors in rodents that had been fed the experimental drug. The possible loss of ragaglitazar, which had been forecast peak annual sales of $1.78 billion, is Novo Nordisk's third setback this year. It also hits the drug's originator Dr Reddy's hard.

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Novo Nordisk/G2 Therapies: expanding operations

Novo Nordisk has signed a $100 million deal with Australian biotech firm G2 Therapies to develop a disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD). While the alliance should boost the fortunes of the relatively small biotech company and could aid Novo Nordisk in the potentially lucrative inflammation drugs market, a number of challenges lie ahead due to the nature of this market.

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Novo Nordisk: setback for inhaled insulin

Denmark-based Novo Nordisk has dropped its fast-acting mealtime inhaled insulin product AERx due to a lack of commercial potential, and will focus on long-acting inhaled formulations instead. The problems faced by Novo in marketing the drug, including low satisfaction levels and re-imbursement issues with healthcare providers will also apply to other companies developing inhaled insulin systems.

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Schering-Plough/Centocor: wider Remicade indication

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