Drugs

2 Drugs Have Positive Effect on Alzheimer’s Disease: Study

University of Colorado researchers say two FDA-approved drugs — imipramine and olanzapine — block apolipoprotein E4 (apoE4)-catalyzed polymerization of amyloid-beta, making them potentially useful in preventing Alzheimer’s disease. Writing in the open-access journal Alzheimer’s Research and Therapy, the researchers say the two drugs also show evidence of improving Alzheimer’s disease cognition.

Imipramine (Tofranil) is described as a tricyclic antidepressant that blocks norepinephrine and serotonin reuptake. Olanzapine (Zyprexa) is an antipsychotic drug that has been evaluated for acute treatment of behavioral and psychological symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease, the researchers say.

“The critical test of any proposed Alzheimer’s disease mechanism is whether it leads to effective treatments,” the researchers conclude. “Our high-throughput screen identified two promising FDA-approved drugs, imipramine and olanzapine, which have no structural, functional, or clinical similarities other than their shared ability to inhibit apoE4-catalyzed amyloid beta polymerization, thus identifying this mechanism as an essential contribution of apoE4 to Alzheimer’s disease

Gupta Raises Concerns About Overton’s Independence, Ideology

FDA commissioner nominee Heidi Overton’s responses on vaccines, contraception and abortion medication during her 9/24 Senate confirmation hearing raise concerns that ideology could influence her decision-making if she takes over the agency, MSNBC senior medical analyst Dr. Vin Gupta said Friday. Gupta was particularly critical of Overton’

Overton Confirmation Remains Uncertain After Senate Hearing

FDA commissioner nominee Heidi Overton emerged from her Senate confirmation hearing Thursday (see earlier story) without resolving questions about whether she has enough Republican support to advance — and with a rapidly narrowing window for confirmation before the midterm elections. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing provided few

FDA Classifies Boston Scientific Imager II Catheter Recall as Class I

FDA has classified Boston Scientific's recall of its Imager II Angiographic Catheters as Class I because a manufacturing problem could cause catheter tips to degrade and detach, potentially resulting in life-threatening complications. The agency announced the Class I classification 9/25, updating an Early Alert it issued

FDA Approves Gazyva for Childhood-Onset Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome

FDA has approved Roche’s Gazyva (obinutuzumab) for reducing the risk of relapse in adults and children aged 2 and older with frequently relapsing or steroid-dependent, childhood-onset idiopathic nephrotic syndrome who are in remission. The expanded approval covers the use of the CD20-directed antibody beyond its existing

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Gupta Raises Concerns About Overton’s Independence, Ideology

Overton Confirmation Remains Uncertain After Senate Hearing

FDA Classifies Boston Scientific Imager II Catheter Recall as Class I

FDA Approves Gazyva for Childhood-Onset Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome