An Alzheimer’s patient on what was lost when Biogen shut down its trial, and what may be gained again

Biogen’s decision to revisit a once-failed treatment for Alzheimer’s disease came as a shock to scientists, doctors, and investors alike. For Debby Rosenkrantz, the surprise came with a bit of hope.

Rosenkrantz, 66, was a volunteer in one of Biogen’s studies on the treatment aducanumab, the studies it terminated in March after concluding the drug had no hope of working. Now, with Biogen giving aducanumab another shot — and promising to get trial participants back on the therapy — Rosenkrantz is looking forward to reversing what she said was “a major loss.”