Bristol-Myers Squibb and Gladstone Institutes announce Alzheimer’s alliance

Bristol-Myers Squibb has entered into a new alliance with Gladstone Institutes to conduct innovative new research into Alzheimer's disease.

Under the terms of the new three-year arrangement, Bristol-Myers Squibb will be providing funding for Gladstone's research efforts to identify and validate novel targets for the disease, specifically those affecting Tau dysfunction.

This pertains to a protein that is responsible for binding the cell's internal skeleton and is involved with the formation of neurofibrillary tangles among patients with Alzheimer's, meaning it could be a vital target for modifying disease development.

It is hoped that this combination of different capabilities and expertise will lead to discoveries that can be quickly translated into patient solutions.

Dr Francis Cuss, senior vice-president for discovery at Bristol-Myers Squibb, said: "Bristol-Myers Squibb is committed to helping patients address the unmet medical need for effective treatments across the Alzheimer's disease continuum, from predementia to severe disease."

This comes after the firm announced an alliance with Simcere Pharmaceutical Group earlier this month, which will focus on the development of a new cardiovascular compound.