2020 -- H 7068

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LC003315

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2020

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

RECOGNIZING AND HONORING THE SIXTY VOLUNTEERS WHO PARTICIPATED IN

THE BUTLER HOSPITAL MEMORY AND AGING PROGRAM'S ADUCANUMAB

CLINICAL TRIALS

     Introduced By: Representatives McNamara, Ackerman, Corvese, Kislak, and Jackson

     Date Introduced: January 09, 2020

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, Approximately 5.5 million Americans and 35 million people worldwide

suffer from Alzheimer's disease, a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, which is the sixth

leading cause of death in America; and

     WHEREAS, The Butler Hospital Memory & Aging Program (MAP) is a worldwide

leader in Alzheimer’s disease research with a 25 year history of excellence in clinical care,

training and research; and

     WHEREAS, In order to conduct research studies and clinical trials, MAP requires

courageous study participants and dedicated compassionate donors as well as the support and

collaboration of the wider community; and

     WHEREAS, The participation of people who were experiencing some degree of memory

loss, as well as those with normal memory, is necessary for research studies and clinical trials on

potential new treatments and drugs; and

     WHEREAS, Sixty patients with early Alzheimer’s were placed on either a placebo or the

drug aducanumab through a study under the guidance of Dr. Stephen Salloway at the Butler

Hospital Memory and Aging Program; and

     WHEREAS, Early evidence supported that those on the medicine experienced a slower

decline in their memory and better preservation of day-to-day functions. Although MAP's

participants had seemed to be doing well, the trials were subsequently halted in March of 2019,

because it had appeared that the drug would not be effective; and

     WHEREAS, In November of 2019, new and continuing data revealed that the drug was

working and people on aducanumab were indeed functioning better than people who got the

inactive medicine; and

     WHEREAS, Over the past sixteen years, there have not been any new drugs approved by

the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Alzheimer’s. If aducanumab is approved, it will be

the first new approval of a drug that actually targets the disease itself; and

     WHEREAS, The success of these trials and the many medical advances is substantially

dependent on the registering and participation of volunteers and the support of their families and

the community, and they are eminently deserving of our praise and acknowledgement; now,

therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby recognizes, honors, and thanks those members of our community

who have bravely stepped forward to advance the research for a cure to Alzheimer's disease; and

be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit at duly certified copy of this resolution to the Butler Hospital Memory & Aging Program

(MAP).

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