Hopes of 'blockbuster' at Phytopharm

A DRUG extracted from plants grown in Asia could become a wonder cure for the ageing disease Alzheimer's. Developer Phytopharm is stepping up tests on the treatment, which one City analyst described as a potential 'blockbuster'.

The product, P58, is to be tested on a group of 55-year- olds. Early trials showed an absence of side effects. Tests on rats showed that it can regenerate brain cells lost through ageing.

Chief executive Dr Richard Dixey said: 'P58 has enormous promise in protecting brain cells from the effects of ageing and in reversingthe underlying degenerative processes.' Dr Nick Staples, at WestLB Panmure, called it 'an exciting but early-stage product which has a potentially disease-modifying action in treating Alzheimer's. Should it live up to its potential, it has the makings of a blockbuster.'

Cambridgeshire-based Phytopharm is working on drugs from nature, including an obesity treatment derived from a South African cactus. The shares rose 2 1/2p to 502 1/2p, valuing it at £190m.