Myriad Partners with Lundbeck to Offer Flurizan in Europe
Remember Flurizan, the experimental Alzheimer's medication that I blogged about last month? It's going to be available in Europe.Myriad Genetics, Inc., a Salt Lake City-based biopharmaceutical company, has entered into an agreement with Danish pharmaceutical company H. Lundbeck to develop and market Flurizan in Europe. Myriad will receive $100 million up front and up to $250 million more as the drug moves through the regulatory process.
Flurizan is not FDA-approved and not available in the US except in clinical research settings. Research thus far indicates that the drug effectively slows the progression of the disease in its early stages by blocking the production of beta amyloid in the brain. However, no clinical benefit has been shown in more advanced stages of the disease.
This isn't the first time an Alzheimer's drug was available in Europe before it was accessible in the United States. Namenda was available in Europe for several years before it received FDA-approval in the US.
What are your thoughts about the discrepancy between the United States and Europe in relation to drug approval and availability? Post a comment to this blog, or start a discussion in the forum.
Illustration © Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral Center
Comments
again, the fda is failing the american public by being one of the last drug agencies that will eventually approve a drug that may be helpful in alzheimer’s disease. why do americans have to wait for a drug approval? why, fda, why? people are dying-do you give a damn, or was a word mispelled so you send the entire application back-bring back dr,kessel
This encourages the black market of the drug coming over from Europe. I wanted my mom on this yesterday!