Eisai abandons Alzheimer's drug in late-stage testing

Japanese company was advised treatment would miss goals

20190321N Eisai lab

Eisai is one of many drugmakers worldwide hoping to develop Alzheimer's treatments. (Photo by Masayasu Ito)

TORU HATANO, Nikkei staff writer

TOKYO -- Japan's Eisai has called off late-phase clinical trials of an Alzheimer's disease therapy deemed unlikely to deliver hoped-for results, joining a slew of abortive attempts to develop a treatment.

Eisai and American partner Biogen halted the third phase of trials of the antibody, aducanumab, based on the findings of an independent committee. Safety concerns were not the reason, the companies said Thursday.

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