A case series of 5 people with Alzheimers disease given CPHPC for 3 months which led to depletion of Serum Amyloid P component (SAP) in the blood and brain1 is reported widely in the news.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090413180706.htm
It is good that CPHPC, a small molecule developed in conjunction with Roche and now owned by Pentraxin, is usually abbreviated as its long name is R-1-[6-[R-2-carboxy-pyrrolidin-1-yl]-6-oxo-hexanoyl]pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid.
Whilst an interesting observation of safety and efficacy this short case series is very early in the development of this interesting new compound and requires further research. The story however has been taken up by several news sources as a possible breakthrough in the treatment of Alzheimers.
1) Simon E. Kolstoea SE, Basil H. Ridhab, Vittorio Bellottia, Nan Wangd, Carol V. Robinsond, Sebastian J. Crutchb, Geoffrey Keirc, Riitta Kukkastenvehmasb,, J. Ruth Gallimorea, Winston L. Hutchinsona, Philip N. Hawkinsa, Stephen P. Wooda, Martin N. Rossorb, Mark B. Pepysa. Molecular dissection of Alzheimer disease neuropathology by depletion of serum amyloid P component. PNAS, (in press)