Prana Biotechnology aiming for big prize with Melbourne Alzheimer's trial 

(MENAFN - ProactiveInvestors - Australia) Melbourne-based Prana Biotechnology (ASX:PBT; NASDAQ:PRAN) has recruited 41 patients with prodromal or mild Alzheimer's Disease for its Phase II study with PBT2 in early Alzheimer's patients.

Alzheimer's Disease and dementia affects over 26 million people worldwide. The cost to society has been reported as 600 billion per annum.

While available treatments are approved to provide some degree of symptomatic relief. None change the course of the disease

The prize is significant for Prana and Geoff Kempler if PBT2 is successful.

The 12 month trial will take place in Melbourne, a double-blind placebo controlled trial.

The trial has received funding from the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF).

All trial participants will undergo brain scans to measure PBT2's effect on amyloid deposits in the brain.

This will use PiB-PET scanning and measure effects on increasing brain activity (F-FDG PET).

Significantly, an earlier 12 week Alzheimer's Disease trial found that PBT2 significantly reduced the level of
Abeta protein in the spinal fluid of treated patients.

It alsp significantly improved their cognitive Executive Function1,2,3.

The science behind the premise that PBT2 will bring meaningful clinical benefit to patients is compelling.

PBT2 restores neuronal health by selectively binding and redistributing brain metals (copper, zinc) that have become imbalanced due to disease or the ageing process.

PBT2 is able to prevent Abeta protein induced toxicity and promote its disaggregation in the brain.

Success in this trial will demonstrate target engagement by PBT2 in the brains of people with Alzheimer's Disease, and accelerate the clinical development of PBT2 to patients.