Myriad Genetics, Inc. has announced its upcoming Alzheimer drug Flurizan (tarenflurbil) which the company alleges that it works in two different ways to stop the disease. Tarenflurbil is part of a class called gamma-secretase modulators (GSM), whose exact way of action was still unclear.

A new study published in the British journal Nature claims it describes the mechanism through which these types of drugs manage to reduce levels of beta amyloid, the main constituent of amyloid plaques in Alzheimer's disease. Not only they prevent production of long pieces of amyloid beta, but the drugs also increases production of short pieces of amyloid beta, which prevents the longer ones from adhering to one another.

Tarenflurbil is somewhat similar to NSAID flurbiprofen (brand name Ansaid), but lacks anti-inflammatory activity.

Researchers have come to an important conclusion late last month involving painkillers such aspirin and ibuprofen and their influence on someone’s chance to develop Alzheimer’s disease. The research examined data from six studies involving 13,499 people without dementia and concluded that those who used aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin and other brands) and naproxen (Aleve and other brands), all known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), had a 23 percent lower risk for Alzheimer’s compared with people who did not use these drugs. Over the course of these six studies, 820 participants developed Alzheimer’s.

However, the risk reduction did not seem to depend upon the type of NDSAID taken.

Alzheimer’s causes a progressive loss of memory and mental faculties, which can be devastating for the patients concerned and those around them. According to the World Health Organization, there are about 18 million people worldwide with Alzheimer’s disease. By 2025, that number is expected to reach 34 million, as existing drugs can ease symptoms but do not stop the disease.