Pharmaceutical Business review

Eli Lilly announces phase 3 Solanezumab EXPEDITION studies results

The announcement follows the presentation of EXPEDITION study data conducted by the Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study (ADCS), an academic research consortium, at the annual meeting of the American Neurological Association (ANA).

The ADCS steering committee member Rachelle Doody said, "These results represent an important step for the medical, academic, and scientific communities in understanding brain amyloid as a target of AD therapies."

The company’s previously reported analysis showed primary endpoints, both cognitive and functional were not met in the two Phase 3, double-blind, placebo-controlled solanezumab EXPEDITION trials in patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease.

In Lilly’s pre-specified secondary analysis of pooled data in patients with mild Alzheimer’s disease, a statistically significant slowing of cognitive decline was shown; this finding represented a 34% reduction in decline.

Lilly Bio-Medicines senior vice president and president David Ricks, "While the path forward has not been determined, we believe these data in patients with mild disease may provide a step toward a potential treatment option."