Eli Lilly and Co (NYSE:LLY) has said its early-generation Alzheimer's drug, solanezumab, did not slow cognitive decline in patients treated before they showed symptoms, according to the results of a large trial.
However, the 1,100-patient study did find a strong link between levels of brain plaques and disease progression, the company said.
The drug was designed to target only soluble forms of amyloid beta, a toxic protein that accumulates in the brains of Alzheimer's patients.
Lilly abandoned solanezumab in 2016 after it failed to slow loss of mental functioning in patients with mild Alzheimer's symptoms in clinical trials.
The latest results highlight the need for "more aggressive therapies to lower plaque" and will shape future trials of amyloid-targeting drugs, said John Sims, senior medical director at Lilly.