Biogen Halts Studies of Closely Watched Alzheimer’s Drug, a Blow to Hopes for New Treatment

STAT is reporting that Biogen and its Japanese pharma partner Eisai announced earlier today that they are stopping two Phase 3 clinical trials of aducanumab, a drug that was designed to slow the worsening of Alzheimer's by targeting brain-destroying protein fragments known as beta-amyloid. According to both firms, the decision to halt the trials was based on an interim analysis that an independent monitoring committee had conducted. The study concluded that aducanumab was not likely to benefit Alzheimer's patients compared to placebo when the trials completed. Biogen and Eisai join a long list of pharmaceutical companies that have attempted and been unsuccessful in developing viable treatments for Alzheimer's. Biogen CEO Michel Vounatsos issued an official statement that read: "This disappointing news confirms the complexity of treating Alzheimer's disease and the need to further advance knowledge in neuroscience. We are incredibly grateful to all the Alzheimer's disease patients, their families, and the investigators who participated in the trials and contributed greatly to this research."