The German Merz Pharmaceuticals is one of the leading companies in the research and development of drugs in the field of Alzheimer's disease
Innovative technology for drugs to treat Alzheimer's disease which was developed by a team of researchers led by Prof. Ehud Gazit from the George S. Wise at Tel Aviv University was licensed to the German company Meraz Pharmaceuticals by Ramot Company near Tel Aviv University Ltd., the university's commercialization arm. The exclusive and worldwide license agreement includes payment of license fees, milestone payments and payment of royalties on future sales. This technology is one of a basket of technologies developed through funding from an 8.5 million dollar fund raised from a group of American investors by Ramot in 2003.
Meraz Pharmaceuticals, which received the license from Ramot, is one of the leading companies in the research and development of drugs in the field of Alzheimer's disease. The company has proven its expertise in the field in the past, with the development of the drug Memantine, which is a drug with a significant market share (Blockbuster) for the treatment of the disease. "The main goal of the company is to offer innovative treatment options that will benefit patients by developing innovative drugs in our area of expertise, which is the treatment of central nervous system problems," said Dr. Alexander Gabauer, head of the company's R&D department. Dr. Martin Zugal, CEO of the company, explains: "The collaboration with Tel Aviv University's Ramot Company for the Elite Technological Development is our next step towards achieving our ambitious goal."
"This innovative technology, as well as other technologies in the field of the central nervous system, is the result of advanced scientific research in the life sciences and medicine carried out at the university" stated Prof. Hagit Maser-Yeron, the university's vice president for research and development. "We hope that the collaboration with Meraz Pharmaceuticals will lead to the development of an effective treatment for one of the worst degenerative diseases known today," added Prof. Zvi Galil, the president of the university.
Alzheimer's disease is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder. In its early stages, the disease causes memory loss, a decrease in language skills and visual information processing abilities, delusional thinking and loss of judgment. In the advanced stages of the disease, the brain damage causes a serious impairment in the relationship with the environment and a severe disruption in the performance of daily activities, hence increasing the patient's dependence on supervision and close treatment.
This disease, which is considered to be the most severe degenerative brain disease of all, is a major challenge for public health practitioners around the world and we expect it to continue to be so in the coming years as well. The American Alzheimer's Association estimated about two years ago that about 4.5 million Americans, and 15 million people worldwide suffer from this disease. This number of patients is expected to triple by 2050 due to the expected increase in life expectancy.
