Lilly Kills Two Alzheimer's Trials
In a huge blow to Eli Lilly's Alzheimer's pipeline, the drug giant was forced to end two clinical trials due to the fact that the treatment was actually making patients' memory recall worse.
After a week of good news for Alzheimer’s patients, Eli Lilly dropped the bombshell that it had stopped development of one of its experimental Alzheimer’s disease treatments due to the fact that patients in two late-stage clinical trials actually experienced more memory loss than those on a placebo.
The treatment in question, semagacestat, was involved in two Phase III trials encompassing 2,600 patients with low to medium levels of Alzheimer’s disease progression. In both cases, the disease advanced and memory loss increased, but patients taking semagacestat saw a “statistically significant greater degree” of cognition problems than the placebo group. Additionally, patients on the treatment had an increased risk of skin cancer-not a good sign at all.
Semagacestat is an oral treatment that was intended to halt creation of an enzyme called amyloid beta plaque-believed to be what leads to memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease.
“This is disappointing news for the millions of Alzheimer's patients and their families worldwide who anxiously await a successful treatment for this devastating illness,” stated Jan M. Lundberg, president, Lilly Research Laboratories. “This is a setback, but Lilly’s commitment to beating Alzheimer’s will not waver.”
Lilly asked anyone taking the medicine to discontinue treatment as soon as possible and go see a doctor. The drug firm will continue to track patients on the treatment to monitor for any additional safety problems.
The company is now banking on solanezumab, also in Phase III trials, as a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. According to Lilly, both compounds were designed to defeat amyloid beta plaque, but solanezumab functions in a different manner, and therefore shouldn’t have the same problems semagacestat had.
Alzheimer’s is an extremely difficult disease to diagnose because it can’t be confirmed without a post-mortem autopsy. Physicians basically gauge the likelihood that a patient has the disease by process of elimination, making treatment and drug development problematic.
Addressing Disparities in Psoriasis Trials: Takeda's Strategies for Inclusivity in Clinical Research
April 14th 2025LaShell Robinson, Head of Global Feasibility and Trial Equity at Takeda, speaks about the company's strategies to engage patients in underrepresented populations in its phase III psoriasis trials.
Beyond the Prescription: Pharma's Role in Digital Health Conversations
April 1st 2025Join us for an insightful conversation with Jennifer Harakal, Head of Regulatory Affairs at Canopy Life Sciences, as we unpack the evolving intersection of social media and healthcare decisions. Discover how pharmaceutical companies can navigate regulatory challenges while meaningfully engaging with consumers in digital spaces. Jennifer shares expert strategies for responsible marketing, working with influencers, and creating educational content that bridges the gap between patients and healthcare providers. A must-listen for pharma marketers looking to build trust and compliance in today's social media landscape.
