"People are willing to put up with the rash because they have cancer ... but if you have two equivalent options and one causes a rash and one doesn't, people are always going to choose the one without a rash, " Hecht says.
Whatever the case, don't throw away that brand spanking new VX8550 or anything rash like that -- the companies aren't looking to roll anything out for another three or four years.
But officials and advocates can't pinpoint a reason for the recent rash of attacks or even whether it reflects more violence or more aggressive reporting of incidents.
The main side effects of the drug generally aren't severe primarily fatigue, rash and high cholesterol and triglycerides but the cumulative effects of chronic use in Alzheimer's patients are unknown, said Dr. Flaherty.