BASEL, Switzerland and NUTLEY, N.J., Sept. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/
— Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) today announced the
initiation of its first Phase 1 clinical trial to investigate the
safety and tolerability of a molecule designed to address the
cognitive and behavioral deficits associated with Down
syndrome.
“There is currently a large unmet medical need for the treatment
of cognitive impairments in individuals suffering from Down
syndrome,” comments Luca Santarelli, Global Head of Roche
Neurosciences Disease Translational Area. “Our strategy at Roche
neurosciences is to specifically address these serious conditions
that have no approved, effective or safe treatment. This is why we
have a strong commitment to neurodevelopmental disorders, including
genetic disorders like Down syndrome or Fragile X, as well as
autism spectrum disorders.”
Enhancing brain functions such as cognition and language in
individuals with Down syndrome holds the promise to help these
individuals conduct a more independent life. This may result from
the improved ability to carry out every day’s practical tasks such
as finding an apartment, maintaining a job, or having a more
fulfilling social life. These improvements can have a significant
impact on functioning and quality of life of Down syndrome
individuals as well as help reduce the burden for families,
caregivers and the society.
“This study will target only adults between 18 and 30 years old,
but we believe that an earlier intervention in Down syndrome has
the potential for a greater medical impact,” says Paulo Fontoura,
Head of Translational Medicine in the Roche Neurosciences Disease
Translational Area. “While we are still at the early stage, we are
confident that our drug’s mechanism of action can potentially open
the door to further promising investigations in upcoming
years.”
Based on animal models, an imbalance between excitatory and
inhibitory neurotransmission has been proposed among th
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