A story of serendipity & Innovation

1. TACRINE (Cognex) A story of serendipity & Innovation

2. History of Tacrine, The FDA, and Alzheimer’s Disease • Begins at the dawn of the 20th century. • Dr. Summers becomes involved in 1976 with research on delirium. • In 1986 a UCLA team lead by Dr. Summers publishes a treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease for one year with Tacrine.

3. Rules of Invention • Wrong Place • Wrong Industry • Wrong Time • Wrong Reasons

4. Dr. Summers was • In private psychiatric practice (not at University or in neurology) • Doing self-funded research (no grants) • Received substantial publicity at a time that a major charity was promoting via President Regan’s administration that there was “No treatment” • Wrote a patent application so that there would be commercial interest and he could get further funding of his research.

5. In Time Dr. Summers learns • Control your destiny • Speak out when you are right • There will be support • Sometimes and invention needs a champion. • Become an activist

6. Tacrine became availableto the American public on September 30, 1993 as the first treatment for Alzheimer’s disease.