Monterey, CA Chronic Heart Failure Drug Receives A Setback : May Come With Alzheimer's As A Side Effect

Novartis AG has had to change the way it is doing its drug trial on a promising new heart drug after doctors speculated that the medication may be giving some recipients Alzheimer's disease.  What a horrible side effect!  Although there is no evidence that LCZ696 (which is designed to treat chronic heart failure) causes Alzheimer's, a paper published in the European Heart Journal cautioned that previous studies suggest that this class of drug (called a neprilysin inhibitor) could accelerate the progression of Alzheimer's disease.  One neurologist, however, said that patients with chronic heart failure are already at heightened risk for Alzheimer's disease so it may just be a coincidence.  However, more studies are needed.  Patrice Matchaba, the head of development for Novartis's critical care franchise said the drug saves lives and keeps patients out of the hospital.  "But we need to provide an answer to the scientific community," she said