Lilly readies Phase III Alzheimer's trial

Struggling to right itself after a long dry spell in new drug approvals, Eli Lilly is preparing to a launch a late-stage study of an experimental drug for Alzheimer's. LY450139 is expected to inhibit an enzyme that plays a role in the development of beta amyloid, a plaque that has long been linked to the memory-wasting disease. And they're making the move at the same time a slate of biotech developers are moving toward late-stage studies of their own therapies. Myriad Genetics wrapped its late stage study of Flurizan last week. Eli Lilly last launched a new drug for humans in 2005. There is currently no cure for the disease and up to now, most of the therapies on the market have been noted for their lack of efficacy [1].

"The new hope is to effect the disease at the very basic pathology, so you're actually stopping it, not just managing the symptoms," Dr. Daniel D. Christensen, professor of psychiatry, neurology and pharmacology at the University of Utah's Neuropsychiatric Institute told the Indianapolis Star.

- here's the release [2]
- read the article [3] in the Indianapolis Star

ALSO: Eli Lilly's new CEO, John Lechleiter (photo [4]), faces a big Zyprexa settlement and the loss of a key patent, but he still sees his glass as half full as new research highlights a host of new drug targets. See why Lechleiter views Lilly as something of a biotech company inside a Big Pharma organization. Report [5]

Related Articles:
Study shows that Alzheimer's drugs don't work. Report [1]
Big pharma sees big payback for Alzheimer's research. Report [6]
New vaccine may stop, slow Alzheimer's. Report [7]