Two Phase 3 trials of an experimental drug for Alzheimer’s disease were stopped for futility by Biogen Inc and Eisai Co Ltd on 21 March. However a day later, Eisai announced the start of a new Phase 3 programme for another Alzheimer’s treatment which is being developing with Biogen. In both cases the drugs are monoclonal antibodies designed to treat patients with mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer’s disease. They apparently differ in the way they target amyloid-beta which are protein fragments in the brain, thought to contribute to neurodegeneration.
