SMi 4th Annual Conference on Neurodegenerative Disorders: a focus on Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
This was a small (approximately 50 people) focused meeting on neurodegenerative disorders, with most of the speakers being from biotechnology or major pharmaceutical companies. The meeting covered a range of topics including introductions to Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, examples of targeting particular receptors/pathways, animal models and preclinical studies, clinical trial design and the use of biomarkers and imaging modalities. The major focus in the Alzheimer's disease area was finding symptomatic treatments that are superior to acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and the extensive efforts that are ongoing to develop disease-modifying therapies. In terms of Parkinson's disease there are now several reports examining the effects of dopamine agonists versus 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine on disease progression, and ongoing work with growth factors (e.g., glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor) and mixed lineage/c-Jun N-terminal kinase inhibitors, such as CEP-1347. Small molecules that enhance endogenous signalling and repair pathways were also discussed.
Eli Lilly & Co. Ltd, Erl Wood Manor, Windlesham, Surrey, UK. oneill_michael_j@lilly.com
Michael J
MJ
O'Neill
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases; D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D018091:Receptors, AMPA / Q000378:metabolism; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000378:metabolism; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000378:metabolism
D015415:Biomarkers; D018091:Receptors, AMPA; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases; D010450:Endopeptidases; D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases; C509280:BACE1 protein, human