Elan has been forced to halt trials of a new vaccine designed to reverse Alzheimer's disease after 12 volunteers fell seriously ill with brain inflammation, the Washington Postreported citing sources familiar with the study.
Elan is developing the vaccine with Wyeth, a pharmaceutical division of American Home Products.
The vaccine, known by its code name AN-1792, had generated unusually intense enthusiasm among scientists and patient advocates during the past two years, as experiments in mice suggested it could halt the progression of Alzheimer's and perhaps even cure the deadly disease.
Even the best treatments today have a very modest impact.
Company officials have released few details about the problems, the paper said. A spokesman said an independent committee is reviewing data from the study, which has enrolled about 360 people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's in four European countries and at 11 US sites.
The paper cited the sources as saying there is little question the vaccine triggered the brain reactions, which some called encephalitis (an inflammation of the brain) and another called "meningoencephalitis," an inflammation of the brain and surrounding membranes.
Both syndromes can cause symptoms ranging from fever, headache and vomiting to altered consciousness, muscle weakness and seizures.
Elan would not tell the paper how quickly it had halted inoculations after the first few patients were diagnosed. The company also would not say what, if any, information was being shared with other volunteers who might be at ongoing risk of encephalitis.
A company spokesman said only doctors at individual test sites could speak on that issue, but officials at several sites yesterday said they had been told by the company not to talk to reporters, the paper said.
An Elan spokesman did tell the paper that all those who experienced ill effects "have been treated and are responding appropriately," without elaborating.
AFP