LONDON, U.K. -- With the recent discovery of the first chemical to prevent the death of brain tissue in a neurodegenerative disease, Clinical Trials in CNS comes at the perfect time to discuss the latest developments in Alzheimer's and Parkinson’s disease.

It is early days for the drug which has only been tested on mice, but this is the first time that any form of neurodegeneration has been completely halted, so it is a significant breakthrough.

Dr Eric Karran, the Director of Research at the charity Alzheimer's Research UK, said: "Targeting a mechanism relevant to a number of neurodegenerative diseases could yield a single drug with wide-reaching benefits, but this compound is still at an early stage...It will be important for these findings to be repeated and tested in models of other neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease." * http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-24462699

Dr Karran will be making a keynote address at the 12th annual Clinical Trials in CNS conference in a session looking at the latest developments in Alzheimer’s disease.

Presentation highlights for the address entitled “The Amyloid Cascade Hypothesis and Developing Drugs for AD: Past, Present and Future" include:

· The amyloid cascade hypothesis has largely driven therapeutic investigation in AD

· Failed phase 3 testing of amyloidocentric drugs

· Lessons learned from failed trials

· Has amyloid cascade hypothesis yet been tested on man?

Other conference highlights will include:

· Defining the genetic architecture of Alzheimer’s disease

· Julie Williams, Professor, Cardiff University

· The legalities, ethics and implications in Sham Surgery

· Tom Isaacs, Co-founder, Cure Parkinson's Trust

· Translational Medicines Models in Neurodegenerative diseases

· Johannes Streffer, Senior Director, Experimental Medicine Neuroscience, Johnson & Johnson

click here (http://www.smi-online.co.uk/goto/clinicaltrialscns61.asp) to see the full speaker line.

Clinical Trials in CNS
18-19 November 2013
Marriott Regents Park Hotel, London UK
www.clinicaltrialscns.com