Bayer Schering Pharma to start BAY 94-9172 phase III trials

Bayer Schering Pharma is due to begin a phase III global clinical development programme of BAY 94-9172 (AV1/ZK) later this year.

The compound is designed to bind to a pathological hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease in the brain known as the beta amyloid protein, which is being examined for its ability to work as an in-vivo imaging method to detect the illness.

Dr Thomas Balzer, head of global clinical development therapeutic area diagnostic imaging, explained the protein is accumulated very early in the course of the medical condition and the only way to detect it at the moment is upon post-mortem.

He added there is a high unmet medical need for an earlier and clearer way to determine whether a patient has the disease or if it is another form of dementia.

“We hope that BAY 94-9172 can contribute to this for the patient’s benefit because an earlier and more accurate diagnosis allows for optimised care and treatment options,” stated Dr Balzer.

The company has recently completed its first global phase II study analysing the compound using emission tomography.

Earlier this month, Bayer HealthCare announced it had received regulatory approval to merge with Genzyme.