Factbox-Roche's drug failure extends long list of Alzheimer's trial setbacks
(Reuters) -Roche Holding AG reported on Monday that its Alzheimer's drug candidate, gantenerumab, did not meet main goals of studies, marking another setback for companies trying to find an effective treatment for the memory-robbing disease.
The results come nearly two months after partners Eisai Co Ltd and Biogen Inc reported that their Alzheimer's disease drug, lecanemab, significantly slowed cognitive decline in a large trial.
The following is a list of high-profile Alzheimer's disease trial failures:
Company Drug Trial outcome Mechanism of
name/year action
Roche gantenerumab Did Designed to
(2022) not meet main target
goals of trials, beta-amyloid
failed to slow and remove
dementia brain plaques
progression in to slow down
two studies. dementia
progression.
Roche crenezumab Although small A monoclonal
(2022) numerical antibody
differences targeting toxic
favored protein plaque
crenezumab, the in the brain
results were not known as beta
statistically amyloid to slow
significant and disease
potentially due progression.
to chance.
Biogen gosuranemab An antibody
(2021) Failed to meet directed
any against "tau"
efficacy goals proteins
in trial. believed to
play a role in
Alzheimer's.
Roche and semorinemab Targeted "tau"
AC Immune Failed proteins.
(2020) to
slow cognitive
and functional
decline in
trial.
Roche and gantenerumab, Combination Designed to
Eli Lilly solanezumab failed to arrest neutralize
(2020) cognitive beta-amyloid
decline in those plaques.
afflicted by
gene mutations.
Neurotrope bryostatin-1 Drug did not Designed to
Inc, now show any induce growth
called significant of synapses in
Synaptogen difference in the brain and
ix Inc patients after prevent cell
(2019) 13 weeks in a death.
mid-stage trial.
Biogen and elenbecestat The companies BACE inhibitor
Eisai Co scrapped two
(2019) late-stage
studies in
patients with
early
Alzheimer’s,
after
independent
committee
recommended
discontinuation.
Novartis, CNP520 Companies BACE inhibitor
Amgen, discontinued two
Banner mid-to-late-stag
Alzheimer' e studies after
s identifying
Institute worsening of
(2019) some measures of
cognitive
function in
treatment
groups.
Merck & Co verubecestat Did A beta
not work in secretase
(2018) late-stage cleaving enzyme
trials in (BACE)
patients with inhibitor,
both very early which aims to
Alzheimer's and prevent amyloid
those with mild- buildup.
to-moderate
Alzheimer's.
AstraZenec lanabecestat Companies Beta secretase
a, Eli discontinued cleaving enzyme
Lilly late-stage (BACE)
(2018) trials of the inhibitor,
drug after which aims to
independent prevent amyloid
committee buildup.
concluded they
were unlikely to
succeed.
Johnson & atabecestat BACE inhibitor
Johnson Stopped
development in
(2018) mid-stage trials
after
participants
showed serious
elevations of
liver enzymes.
Eli Lilly solanezumab In a late-stage Targets
and Co study, patients beta-amyloid,
(2016) treated with the Alzheimer’s
solanezumab did protein that
not experience a forms sticky
significantly plaques in the
greater slowing brain.
in cognitive
decline vs
placebo.
Pfizer bapineuzumab The drugmakers Beta-amyloid
Inc, called off targeting
Johnson & additional work monoclonal
Johnson after the drug antibody.
(2012) failed to help
patients with
mild-to-moderate
Alzheimer's in
its second round
of clinical
trials.
(Reporting by Bhanvi Satija, Raghav Mahobe and Manas Mishra in Bengaluru; Editing by Bill Berkrot and Sriraj Kalluvila)
