Israeli Professor Mousa Youdim Seeks Next Alzheimer's Breakthrough
Translated & summarized from Globes by baba
Professor Mousa Youdim, an 86-year-old Israeli biochemist, is pursuing new treatments for Alzheimer's disease, building on his previous success developing a Parkinson's drug that earned billions for Teva. He is exploring lithium and other multi-action drug candidates through his company, Youdim Pharma, while also emphasizing lifestyle factors for cognitive health.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Professor Mousa Youdim is developing new Alzheimer's treatments.
- His previous Parkinson's drug earned billions for Teva.
- Youdim Pharma, founded by his son, is also developing medical devices.
- He believes multi-action drugs are needed for complex diseases.
- Research includes exploring lithium's potential for Alzheimer's.
- Lifestyle factors are crucial for maintaining cognitive health.
Professor Mousa Youdim, an 86-year-old biochemist and researcher of neurodegenerative diseases, is aiming to replicate his past success in developing Parkinson's medication by now focusing on Alzheimer's. Youdim, who immigrated to Israel from Iran nearly 50 years ago, previously developed Rasagiline (Azilect), a Parkinson's drug that generated at least $2.5 billion for Teva Pharmaceuticals and earned him and the Technion significant royalties. He also received the Israel Prize for Life Sciences in 2022.
Youdim's journey to Israel was challenging. After studying in England from a young age, he was recruited to establish the Pharmacology Department at the Technion in Haifa in 1977. However, upon arrival, he faced unmet promises regarding funding and difficulties with his wife's conversion process, leading to a period of intense struggle. Eventually, the Technion secured the necessary budget, and his wife's conversion was facilitated, allowing him to establish a center of excellence for neurodegenerative diseases.
His collaboration with Teva on Rasagiline began after initial rejections in the 1980s, with CEO Eli Hurvitz eventually greenlighting the project in 1986. Youdim credits the "Jewish brain" and the Israeli environment for enabling achievements that might have been harder to reach in the US. He also emphasizes the importance of alumni giving back to their institutions, a practice he supports through donations like the "Youdim Family Prize for Excellence in Cancer Research" at Rambam Hospital.
Following his retirement from the Technion in 2010, Youdim founded Youdim Pharma, initially a incubator for medical device companies, now a private investment firm focused on drug development and medical devices, managed by his son Tal. The incubator is developing several promising technologies, including a method for continuous Levodopa delivery for Parkinson's, a device to prevent postpartum hemorrhage, an AI-driven cardiac imaging calibration system, and smart sutures for heart valve surgery.
Regarding Alzheimer's, Youdim believes a single-pill cure is unlikely, advocating for multi-action drugs. His current research explores lithium's potential in treating Alzheimer's, citing promising findings about its effect on amyloid and tau proteins and its deficiency in Alzheimer's patients' brains. He is also developing other drug candidates, including Exagilan, which combines mechanisms from existing Alzheimer's and Parkinson's treatments, and aims for reversible MAO-A inhibition to avoid dangerous side effects. Youdim also stresses the importance of lifestyle factors like exercise, diet, and social engagement for cognitive health.