Yet another attempt at the Amyloid hypothesis in Alzheimer's disease by Biogen:
Biogen;(NASDAQ:BIIB) shares soared on news that one of its Alzheimer’s drug trials was showing tremendous promise. Specifically, BIIB stock jumped nearly 20% after an update on BAN-2401, a phase 2 drug that showed a statistically significant slowdown in the memory loss associated with Alzheimer’s.
No, BAN-2401 isn’t the only Alzheimer’s drug in the works. There are, in fact, five drugs already on the market approved as a treatment for the disease. BAN-2401 is a very promising prospect though, taking aim at a market that’s in desperate need of a better solution than what’s currently available.
BAN-2401 Works! (so far)
It was almost a bust, given the 12-month results posted in December.
As it turns out though, the drug just needed another six more months to achieve measurable efficacy.
RealMoney’s Bret Jensen explains, “It is important to remember that this is only Phase 2 data and while encouraging, it is not the first time an Alzheimer’s drug that gotten past this hurdle. Every other company has blown up in Phase 3 development.”" Much work still needs to be done. Specifically, a much bigger phase 3 trial still needs to take place … a stage that’s proven brutal to the biopharma industry in the recent past. As RealMoney’s Bret Jensen explains, “It is important to remember that this is only Phase 2 data and while encouraging, it is not the first time an Alzheimer’s drug that gotten past this hurdle. Every other company has blown up in Phase 3 development.”
Eli Lilly;(NYSE:LLY) and AstraZeneca (NYSE:AZN). The former’s solanezumab failed in phase 3 testing back in 2016, while the latter’s lanabecestat also failed to meet its late-stage endpoints, forcing the end of that trial last month.
If there was any company in a position to do what’s been tough to do though, it’s Biogen, but not necessarily with BAN-2401.
Aducanumab Validated
In and of itself, the encouraging news regarding BAN-2401 may not have moved BIIB stock the way it did on Friday. When coupled with similarly convincing results from another, similar Biogen-made Alzheimer’s drug called Aducanumab, however, the trial’s success thus far says Biogen is on the right track.
Aducanumab, like BAN-2401, is an antibody that binds with amyloid beta plaque, preventing it from clogging up brain synapses.
While amyloid beta has long been thought to be the cause of Alzheimer’s, it has never been proven. And, regardless, reducing and/or removing it from the brain has proven enormously difficult.
Biogen;(NASDAQ:BIIB) shares soared on news that one of its Alzheimer’s drug trials was showing tremendous promise. Specifically, BIIB stock jumped nearly 20% after an update on BAN-2401, a phase 2 drug that showed a statistically significant slowdown in the memory loss associated with Alzheimer’s.
No, BAN-2401 isn’t the only Alzheimer’s drug in the works. There are, in fact, five drugs already on the market approved as a treatment for the disease. BAN-2401 is a very promising prospect though, taking aim at a market that’s in desperate need of a better solution than what’s currently available.
BAN-2401 Works! (so far)
It was almost a bust, given the 12-month results posted in December.
As it turns out though, the drug just needed another six more months to achieve measurable efficacy.
RealMoney’s Bret Jensen explains, “It is important to remember that this is only Phase 2 data and while encouraging, it is not the first time an Alzheimer’s drug that gotten past this hurdle. Every other company has blown up in Phase 3 development.”" Much work still needs to be done. Specifically, a much bigger phase 3 trial still needs to take place … a stage that’s proven brutal to the biopharma industry in the recent past. As RealMoney’s Bret Jensen explains, “It is important to remember that this is only Phase 2 data and while encouraging, it is not the first time an Alzheimer’s drug that gotten past this hurdle. Every other company has blown up in Phase 3 development.”
Eli Lilly;(NYSE:LLY) and AstraZeneca (NYSE:AZN). The former’s solanezumab failed in phase 3 testing back in 2016, while the latter’s lanabecestat also failed to meet its late-stage endpoints, forcing the end of that trial last month.
If there was any company in a position to do what’s been tough to do though, it’s Biogen, but not necessarily with BAN-2401.
Aducanumab Validated
In and of itself, the encouraging news regarding BAN-2401 may not have moved BIIB stock the way it did on Friday. When coupled with similarly convincing results from another, similar Biogen-made Alzheimer’s drug called Aducanumab, however, the trial’s success thus far says Biogen is on the right track.
Aducanumab, like BAN-2401, is an antibody that binds with amyloid beta plaque, preventing it from clogging up brain synapses.
While amyloid beta has long been thought to be the cause of Alzheimer’s, it has never been proven. And, regardless, reducing and/or removing it from the brain has proven enormously difficult.
