COLUMBIA, Md., Oct. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Martek Biosciences announced today that its vegetarian source of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) omega-3 derived from microalgae was the only DHA source selected for use in an upcoming multi-million dollar National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded study on the effects of DHA in slowing the progression of Alzheimer's disease.
Sponsored by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), one of the 27 Institutes and Centers of NIH, the study will determine whether DHA supplementation slows the progression of cognitive and functional decline in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. This study is being funded by a NIA/NIH grant to the Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study (ADCS), a cooperative agreement between the NIA and the University of California San Diego that was founded to advance research in the development of drugs that might be useful for treating Alzheimer's, particularly those therapies that might be overlooked by industry. Approximately $10.5 million of the ADCS grant is earmarked to fund the DHA study.
"DHA has great promise as a treatment strategy for Alzheimer's disease, with favorable effects on the same biochemical 'targets' which are being pursued with experimental drugs," said Joseph Quinn, M.D., lead investigator of the study. "One big advantage of DHA is that its biology is well known, so that the DHA approach should be less risky than many other experimental drugs under study."
The study, "Effects of DHA in Slowing the Progression of Alzheimer's Disease," is a multi-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 400 subjects with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. The patients will be treated for 18 months, during which patients will be given either two grams per day of DHA orally, or placebo. The patients will be able to take their other Alzheimer's medications while in the study.
Director of ADCS, Dr. Leon Thal, notes that, "This is an important study designed to slow disease progression in Alzheimer's disease. We are delighted to be able to work with Martek."
As part of the study, the lead investigator will file an investigational new drug application (IND) with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for DHA for the treatment of patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. The study will take approximately three years to complete.
"We are looking forward to seeing the results of this study, and hope that it will benefit those impacted by Alzheimer's disease," said Steve Dubin, CEO of Martek. "Research continues to indicate that DHA is important to health throughout life, and we are pleased that NIH-supported clinicians have confidence in our DHA omega-3, and are choosing it for use in this important clinical study."
DHA omega-3 is a long-chain polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acid found throughout the body. It is a major structural fat in the brain and accounts for up to 97 percent of the omega-3 fats in the brain. Numerous studies confirm that all age groups, from infants to adults, benefit from an adequate supply of DHA omega-3. Additionally, low levels of DHA have been associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease.
Martek's DHA omega-3 products are marketed to consumers and included as an ingredient in foods under the brand life'sDHA(TM). Life'sDHA(TM) is a DHA omega-3 from a sustainable and vegetarian source. Isolated from microalgae under tightly controlled manufacturing conditions, life'sDHA(TM) is free of oceanic contaminants that may be present in certain fish or fish oil sources of omega-3's. Microalgae are the only vegetarian source of DHA omega-3.
Martek Biosciences Corporation is a leader in the innovation and development of DHA omega-3 products that promote health and wellness through every stage of life. The Company produces life'sDHA(TM), a sustainable and vegetarian source of DHA omega-3, for use in foods, beverages, infant formula, and supplements, and ARA (arachidonic acid), an omega-6 fatty acid, for use in infant formula. For more information on Martek Biosciences, visit http://www.martek.com.
Sections of this release contain forward-looking statements concerning, among other things, expectations regarding the use of Martek products in an NIH-funded study of the use of DHA for Alzheimer's. These statements are based upon numerous assumptions which Martek cannot control and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ. These statements should be understood in light of the risk factors set forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, the Company's Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended July 31, 2006 and other filed reports on Form 10-K, Form 10-K/A, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K.
CONTACT Cassie France-Kelly Public Relations (443) 542-2116 media@martek.com Kyle Stults Investor Relations (410) 740-0081 investors@martek.com
Martek Biosciences CorporationCONTACT: Cassie France-Kelly, Public Relations, +1-443-542-2116,media@martek.com, or Kyle Stults, Investor Relations, +1-410-740-0081,investors@martek.com, both of Martek Biosciences Corporation
Web site: http://www.martekbio.com/
