Despite setbacks by neuroscience companies Cephalon Inc. and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc., the hope that neurotrophic factors will provide relief for millions of sufferers of neurodegenerative diseases, by slowing the progression of the disease, is alive and kicking. Neurotrophic Biosciences hopes to succeed where others have not by taking an approach that will apply combinations of highly specific neurotrophic factors, many of them newly discovered, to the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Nova Molecular hopes to match the right Alzheimer's patients with the right drugs using pharmacogenetics.

Applying genomics technologies to drugs on market or in clinical development holds great promise. Drug companies can revive tired products by finding new customers, redefine the market for approved compounds, and design more effective medications. But the real commercial possibilities have yet to be tested.