Monday, October 27, 2008

Over-the-counter SmartPill slows Alzheimer’s symptoms

By Mass High Tech Staff

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Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Lowell have received a $240,000 grant to progress the “SmartPill” toward clinical trials that delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.

The drug uses vitamins intended to improve a person’s recall speed and memory without side effects. Currently, the SmartPill’s licensing agreement is a topic of discussion and negotiations to market it under MemoryXL without a prescription.

Thomas Shea, professor at UMass Lowell, received the three-year $240,000 national grant from the Alzheimer’s Association. Shea said the SmartPill can be used as current treatment of the disease or as a preventative measure.

In August, UMass Lowell announced it was awarded more than $1 million in a pair of grants from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center. The grants are to be used for the hiring of additional faculty and for life sciences research. The grants are meant to bring highly talented researchers from across the nation to Massachusetts. Those grants were the first major actions by the agency since Gov. Deval Patrick signed a $1 billion stimulus bill for life sciences into law in June.