Failed study, dimmed hopes in hunt for Alzheimer’s treatment
A treatment for Alzheimer’s failed to slow mental decline in a widely anticipated study, ending hope that researchers at Eli Lilly had finally found a drug that does more to help those suffering from the fatal, mind-robbing disease.
The pharmaceutical company’s shares plunged 14 per cent Wednesday before markets opened.
The drug, solanezumab, missed the study’s main goal when patients taking it did not experience a statistically significant slowing of cognitive decline — which involves a person’s ability to remember things — compared to those taking a placebo or fake drug.
Solanezumab also had failed in two previous large studies of people with mild-to-moderate forms of the disease, but combined results suggested it might slow decline for those with the mildest symptoms. Lilly then decided to start another study focused on those patients.