In this article, Sean Silcoff writes, "For years, [Laval CEO Dr. Francesco] Bellini touted Alzhemed, a drug intended to slow the onset of the brain-wasting Alzheimer's disease, as a potential blockbuster. Though he had success with AIDS drug developer Bio-Chem Pharma, analysts doubted him, as preclinical trials showed only a tiny amount of Alzhemed reached the brain of even the most receptive patient who suffered from the mysterious ailment. He dismissed them in turn, but last year, their skepticism was borne out when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration found a key human trial yielded 'inconclusive' results regarding Alzhemed's efficacy."

"It turns out 'inconclusive' is a relative term. The FDA won't approve Alzhemed as a drug, unless Neurochem redoes the trial, at great cost. But the results were conclusive enough for Dr. Bellini to give Alzhemed a new name- Vivimind- and new life as a 'nutraceutical'."

A nutraceutical is a 'natural' product, such as Omega-3, ginkgo biloba or multivitamins, that enough people think are good for them, despite the lack of solid evidence.

Vivimind isn't being sold as an Alzheimer's treatment. The word "Alzheimer's" won't appear anywhere. In fact, it's being targeted at healthy people who are afraid of losing their memory. "Is there a shred of evidence Vivimind stops the onset of memory loss in healthy people? No, though the firm will offer non-scientific testimonials from families of trial patients that the product works."

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