Lilly Alzheimer’s Drug Trial Yields Promising Sign

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Eli Lilly’s potential Alzheimer’s disease treatment failed to slow mental decline in two late-stage studies, but combined data from both trials showed promising results in patients with mild-to-moderate cases of the mind-robbing disease.

The Indianapolis drugmaker says pooled data from both studies showed a statistically significant slowing of cognitive or mental decline, as did a subgroup of patients with mild cases of the disease.

Lilly will discuss the results with regulators and plan the next steps for the drug, labeled solanezumab.

There is no cure for the illness that affects a person’s memory and their ability to think. Current treatments only temporarily ease symptoms such as memory loss, confusion and agitation. They don’t slow, stop or reverse mental decline.

Lilly’s stock rose 3 percent to $43.75 in premarket trading.