‘Halt the progression’: Research facility in Dammeron Valley focuses on Alzheimer’s prevention

Dr. Gary L. Jones conducting research at Hamit-Darwin-Freesh in Dammeron Valley, Utah, date not specified | Photo courtesy of Hamit-Darwin-Freesh, St. George News

CONTRIBUTED CONTENT — Although there is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, Hamit-Darwin-Freesh, a medical research facility in Dammeron Valley, is on the cutting edge of research aimed at the prevention of this disease, a solution that might also halt progression after early diagnosis. 

Dr. Justin C. Leavitt conducting research at Hamit-Darwin-Freesh in Dammeron Valley, Utah, date not specified | Photo courtesy of Hamit-Darwin-Freesh, St. George News

Having dedicated years to advanced research on Alzheimer’s prevention, Hamit-Darwin-Freesh, a small biotech and drug discovery company, has invested millions of dollars and acquired some of the most sophisticated scientific equipment in Utah, including the circular dichroism spectrometer, a device you will find at only one other facility in the state. 

“We’re proud of what we’ve done,” said Dr. Gary L. Jones, dementia neurologist, pharmacologist and president of Hamit-Darwin-Freesh. “We have discovered several promising candidates for clinical trials for the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease. Our next step is to work with a company that sponsors clinical trials.”  

Alzheimer’s research is a high-risk venture, and well over 400 clinical trials have failed. The main reasons for failure are that patients enrolled in such studies are already too far advanced in the disease, and the duration of the clinical trial is too short, Jones said.   

Hamit-Darwin-Freesh is 100% self-funded. While the company is small, this might be an advantage, as oftentimes truly novel drug discoveries (especially of the nature required to prevent Alzheimer’s disease), come from small labs, often no more than five people, Jones said. 

“However, having progressed this far, we have come to realize that some form of venture capital will be required to get to clinical trial,” he added.  

The research done at Hamit-Darwin-Freesh is focused on providing a safe medication that would be taken daily as one might take a vitamin.

Stock image | Photo by LightFieldStudios/iStock/Getty Images Plus, St. George News

“Of necessity, early clinical trials would be conducted with persons showing the very earliest signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease,” Jones said. “After safety and effectiveness has been demonstrated, the drug might eventually be taken to prevent the first evidence of disease, especially in those at risk, because after all, we don’t want anybody to suffer in any measure from its ravages.”  

Jones explained that while they cannot disclose chemical structures, his team can present a concise overview of the unique mechanisms by which their compounds act, as well as how their approach to Alzheimer’s research must be conducted at the clinical level. In addition to synthetic compounds, they have also found similar anti-Alzheimer’s properties in extracts from two natural products. 

“We believe that once the industry commits to a longer clinical trial, one that starts prior even to the first evidence of mild cognitive impairment, progress will accelerate and the prevention of Alzheimer’s will be achieved,” he added. 

Jones built and developed the Snow Canyon Clinic in Ivins in the 1990s, but sold it to the new medical school. However, he retained 7 acres of adjacent commercial land upon which he plans to build the Snow Canyon Health Science and Research Park. This would consist of two buildings, one for patient care and the other for research. Hamit-Darwin-Freesh has plans to relocate to the research tower.  

The name of the game is prevention, Jones said.

“The same thing that will prevent Alzheimer’s should halt disease progression,” he added. “It seems unlikely that an effective treatment to recover neurological deficit, once established, is forthcoming. But you can prevent it and halt its progression, and that’s what we’re working on here.”

Written by JESSI BANG for St. George News.

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