Alzheimer's disease drug failures plague R&D in neurology, says analyst, but migraine does better

Despite 2018’s successes in the neurology market, research and development (R&D) setbacks in the field of Alzheimer’s disease continue to disappoint, a new review concludes.

According to data and analytics company GlobalData, the Alzheimer’s disease market received major blows when several amyloid targeting β-secretase (BACE) inhibitors dropped out during the year. Merck & Co (NYSE: MRK) terminated verubecestat due to lack of efficacy, Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) dropped atabecestat due to liver safety issues and in June, Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) and AstraZeneca’s (LSE: AZN) lanabecestat was also abandoned after an independent Data Monitoring Committee (DMC) stated that the trials were unlikely to meet their primary endpoints and should be stopped for futility.

Maura Musciacco, director of neurology and ophthalmology at GlobalData, comments: “Eli Lilly also terminated two other projects; although specific reasons for the terminations were not given, they indicate that Eli Lilly has given up on this drug class, sparking a new round of debate about whether Alzheimer’s patients will ever see a new mediation on the market.”