China approves seaweed-based Alzheimer's drug. It's the first new one in 17 years
Authorities in China
have approved a drug for the treatment of Alzheimer's
disease, the first new medicine with the potential to treat the cognitive
disorder in 17 years.
The seaweed-based
drug, called Oligomannate, can be used for the treatment of mild to moderate
Alzheimer's, according to a statement from China's drug safety agency. The
approval is conditional however, meaning that while it can go on sale during
additional clinical trials, it will be strictly monitored and could be
withdrawn should any safety issues arise.
In September, the team
behind the new drug, led by Geng Meiyu at the Shanghai Institute of Materia
Medica under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said they were inspired to look
into seaweed due to the relatively low incidence of Alzheimer's among people
who consume it regularly.
In a paper in the journal Cell Research, Geng's team
described how a sugar contained within seaweed suppresses certain bacteria
contained in the gut which can cause neural degeneration and inflammation of
the brain, leading to Alzheimer's.... read more:
https://edition.cnn.com/2019/11/03/health/china-alzheimers-drug-intl-hnk-scli/index.html