Lilly stops Ph II study of Alzheimer's candidate LY2886721 due to abnormal liver tests

US drug major Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) says it has stopped its Phase II study (BACC) for LY2886721, a beta secretase (BACE) inhibitor being investigated as a once daily treatment for its potential to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease. The decision was due to abnormal liver biochemical tests. The cases of abnormal liver biochemical tests were identified as part of routine monitoring. Lilly will continue to monitor all participants with abnormal liver biochemical tests.

"While stopping this Phase II study for our BACE inhibitor is disappointing, patient safety is of utmost importance to Lilly," said Jan Lundberg, executive vice president, science and technology, and president, Lilly Research Laboratories, adding: "Discovering and developing medicines for devastating diseases like Alzheimer's is fraught with many challenges, but Lilly's 25-year commitment to bringing medicines to the millions of Alzheimer's disease patients who are waiting will not wane."

Based on the information Lilly currently has, the company believes that the abnormal liver biochemical tests observed in this study are not related to the BACE mechanism and continues to be interested in developing BACE inhibitors for the benefit of patients with Alzheimer's disease. Lilly will further evaluate this data prior to determining next steps for the entire LY2886721 clinical development program.