July 23 (Reuters) – Pfizer Inc said on Monday its
experimental Alzheimer’s disease treatment failed to prove
effective in one of four high-stakes late-stage trials of the
medicine.
The trial involved individuals who carry a variation of a
gene called ApoE4 that makes them far more likely to develop
Alzheimer’s disease. Pfizer said it and its partner Johnson &
Johnson will continue with three other late-stage trials
of their medicine, called bapineuzumab, based upon a review by
independent safety monitors.
The failed North American trial was supervised by J&J;, which
is also heading another Phase III trial in North America
involving patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease
that do not carry the ApoE4 gene variation. Pfizer is conducting
a pair of overseas Phase III trials, also involving both ApoE4
carriers, and non-carriers.
Bapineuzumab, an injectable monoclonal antibody, works by
attacking a protein called beta-amyloid that is believed by many
researchers to be a leading cause of Alzheimer’s disease.
Most industry analysts have held out little hope that either
the Pfizer/J&J; drug, or a similar medicine being develped by Eli
Lilly and Co called solanezumab, will succeed in their
primary goals of improving cognitive and life-function for such
patients that already have symptoms.
Pfizer shares were down 1.5 percent in extended trading to
$23.25. U.S. traded shares of Irish drugmaker Elan
, which is also a development partner, fell nearly 17
percent to $11.25. J&J; shares eased 0.4 percent to $67.82
