Deaths force researchers to drop Alzheimer's drug doses

The deaths of nine patients in a mid-stage trial of an experimental Alzheimer's therapy being studied by Elan and Transition Therapeutics have prompted researchers to drop the two highest doses being tested. And even though patients will continue to take the lowest dose of the drug ELND005, analysts say the move raises serious doubts about whether the therapy can ever make it to the market. "A direct relationship between ELND005 and these deaths has not been established," Elan and Transition said in a statement. Several analysts, though, say the deaths significantly raise the risk associated with the program. Report [1]