Despite failure of Lilly's solanezumab, Cognition Therapeutics says trial results support its unique mechanism for Alzheimer's

US clinical-stage neuroscience focussed Cognition Therapeutics has provided its comments and perspective on the disappointing Phase III clinical trial data of Eli Lilly's (NYSE: LLY) Alzheimer's disease medicine, solanezumab, which saw more than $10 billion wiped off the pharma major’s market capitalization yesterday.

"These results, while disappointing for the Alzheimer's disease patient community, still provide scientific insights into the pathological basis of Alzheimer's disease," said Susan Catalano, founder and chief science officer of Cognition Therapeutics. "We view the statement that the responses in the trial directionally favored solanezumab as support for the amyloid hypothesis. This hypothesis has significantly evolved since solanezumab started clinical development, with clear evidence supporting the oligomeric form of the amyloid protein as the culprit that sets Alzheimer's disease in motion," Dr Catalano added.

As the only therapeutic currently in clinical trials that potently engages the toxic oligomeric form of the beta amyloid protein, Cognition believes that CT1812, the company's lead orally delivered small molecule, has a potentially important role in the future AD therapeutic armamentarium. Earlier this month the company announced that the first Alzheimer's patient has been dosed in a Phase Ib clinical trial of CT1812 in mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease.