Study Suggests GAMMAGARD LIQUID May Target the Primary Pathway Involved in Alzheimer...( Laboratory study shows naturally...)

Laboratory study shows naturally occurring antibodies contained in GAMMAGARD LIQUID may bind to the primary culprit for Alzheimer's disease

CHICAGO, April 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The University of Tennessee Health Science Center and Baxter International Inc. (NYSE: BAX) today announced data from a laboratory study demonstrating natural antibodies contained in GAMMAGARD LIQUID [Immune Globulin Intravenous (Human)] (IGIV), marketed as KIOVIG in the European Union, a plasma-derived antibody replacement therapy indicated for primary immunodeficiency disorders and being studied in Alzheimer's disease, binds directly to multiple aggregated, or clustered, forms of the beta-amyloid peptide molecule. The beta-amyloid molecule may contribute to beta-amyloid plaques, which are thought to be the primary culprit causing Alzheimer's disease. The results of this in vitro (laboratory) study were presented by Dr. Brian O'Nuallain, assistant professor, UT Medical Center, Knoxville, University of Tennessee Health Science Center at the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting.

Previous clinical studies suggest that antibody-based immunotherapy may boost the body's own immune response to reduce beta-amyloid, the protein responsible for plaque formation commonly found in the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients. In addition, recent laboratory research suggests that specific forms of beta-amyloid - oligomers and fibrils that are aggregates or clusters of beta-amyloid - may be toxic to the neurological system and lead to the progression of Alzheimer's disease.

"IGIV therapy may contain antibodies that possibly have strong binding characteristics to several aggregated forms of the beta-amyloid peptide that are believed to c
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