Expanding a Brand: Statins and PPAR-Gamma Agonists to Treat Neurological Disease

Abstract

Introduction:

The repositioning of agents to treat neurodegenerative disorders represents a signifi cant opportunity for companies that have products in highly competitive markets. Although the value of neurodegenerative markets is small by comparison, the signifi cant unmet need and the severity of these diseases mean that an emerging agent that can offer even a modest improvement over available therapies is likely to establish a share in the market.

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Both Alzheimer' s disease (AD) and multiple sclerosis (MS) have relatively small patient populations. Nevertheless, what factors make these two markets especially appealing to drug developers interested in repositioning their drugs? Similarities between the pathogenesis of AD and the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease suggest that statins may have some effect on AD. What are the similarities, and what have been the results of clinical trials thus far?

Likewise, there are a number of connections between insulin metabolism and AD. Diabetes is, in fact, a risk factor for AD. What are the connections, and what have been the results of clinical trials investigating the effect of PPAR-gamma agonists on AD? Pfi zer and GlaxoSmithKline are two major drug developers actively seeking to reposition their products into the neurological markets (Pfi zer with its statin Lipitor [atorvastatin] and GlaxoSmithKline with its PPAR-gamma agonist Avandia [rosiglitazone]). What are the factors behind these companies' decisions to investigate new markets?

Scope:

• The AD therapy market: key statistics.
• The MS therapy market: key statistics.
• Use of statins in treating AD: similarities in disease pathophysiology and clinical support for statin use.
• Use of statins in treating MS: similarities in disease pathophysiology and clinical support for statin use.
• Use of PPAR-gamma agonists in treating AD: similarities in disease pathophysiology and clinical support for statin use.

Mentioned in This Spectrum Report:

Companies/Institutes

• Bayhill Therapeutics
• Biogen Idec
• Eisai
• Eli Lilly
• GlaxoSmithKline
• Johnson & Johnson
• Merck
• National Institute on Aging
• Pfi zer
• Serono
• Sun Research Institute
• Takeda
• Teva Pharmaceuticals

Drugs

• Actos (pioglitazone)
• Aricept (donepezil)
• Avandia (rosiglitazone)
• Avonex (interferon beta-1a)
• BHT-3009
• Copaxone (glatiramer acetate)
• Lipitor (atorvastatin)
• Rebif (interferon beta-1a)
• Topamax (topiramate)
• Zocor (simvastatin)