One Step Closer to Fixing Alzheimer's Through the Nose
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

New TAU drug technology licensed by commercial partner

Finding a cure for Alzheimer's disease poses unique challenges. Few drugs can pass through the highly selective blood-brain barrier where they are needed. But there is new hope for breaking down that barrier.

TAU's Prof. Beka Solomon, named as one of the 50 leading scientists in the world in 2007 by Scientific American magazine, has developed a harmless bacterial virus that can lock onto plaques (lesions of brain tissue) associated with Alzheimer's — by going through the nose.

Now TAU's licensing arm Ramot has signed an agreement with NasVax of Israel on the research, development and commercialization of Prof. Solomon's bold new approach.

"Such agreements bring academic luster to a company that can transform them into product candidates for clinical development," says Ze'ev Weinfeld, the CEO of Ramot.

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that afflicts the elderly, and about 5 million Americans at present. It is now the third leading cause of death in the over-65 population.

Click here to read a 2007 press release about Prof. Solomon's research.

To read more about the Ramot/NasVax licensing agreement, visit Pipeline Review.