Medical Need

Cognitive Dysfunction and Neurodegenerative Disease

Neurodegenerative disease includes a large number of disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson disease and Multiple Sclerosis. Deteriorating nerve cells are responsible for the loss of brain fucntion and today only few therapies are available for the wide range of neurodegenerative diseases creating an immense unmet medical need. In the United States, over 5 million patients are suffering from Alzheimer's disease and 1,5 million patients from Parkinson disease.1 Worldwide, it is estimated that over 24 million people have dementia due to Alzheimer's disease.2 The neurodegenerative market is estimated at 15 billion dollars and growing at a double digit rate.3

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder is a cognitive dysfunction caused mainly by the malfunction of the dopamine transporter system. The most commonly used medication is methylphenidate such as Ritalin®, Ritalin-SR®, Ritalin LA® or Concerta® and Metadate®. Annual sales of Novartis' Ritalin® product family amounted to $US 330 million in 2006 and are growing at a rate of 37%.4

• 1 Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, IND, University of California.
• 2 Alzheimer's Disease International.
• 3 Arrowhead Publishers. Leaders in Business Intelligence and Market Research.
• 4 Novartis Annual Report 2006.