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On Friday (September 13), biotechnology firm Biogen and its partner Eisai announced plans to abandon two clinical trials for an Alzheimer’s treatment using the drug elenbecestat.
The decision to end the studies came after a data safety monitoring board found that the benefits of administering elenbecestat did not outweigh the risks, reports Reuters. Elenbecestat was a β-site amyloid precursor protein-cleaving enzyme (BACE) inhibitor, a drug that curtails the production of the main component of the amyloid plaques found in Alzheimer’s patients. In March, the companies ended two late-stage trials of another Alzheimer’s drug, aducanumab.
See “Alzheimer’s Drug Slows Symptoms, Reduces Plaques”
The two Phase III studies, known as MISSION AD1 and AD2, were designed to test the safety and effectiveness of elenbecestat in 2,100 patients with mild cognitive impairment or early Alzheimer’s disease. “We are very disappointed...
Other pharmaceutical companies such as Amgen and AstraZeneca have stopped trials of BACE inhibitors in the past, according to Reuters. Biogen and Eisai’s Phase III trial of the anti–amyloid-β antibody BAN2401 will continue.
See “Immunotherapy for Alzheimer’s Disease Shows Promise”
Emily Makowski is an intern at The Scientist. Email her at emakowski@the-scientist.com.
Correction (September 23): The article incorrectly stated that both elenbecestat and aducanumab were BACE inhibitors. Aducanumab is an anti-β-amyloid antibody, not a BACE inhibitor. The Scientist regrets the error.
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