Merck study may signal doom for a broad group of pivotal Alzheimer’s studies

The BACE theory in Alzheimer’s R&D is simple. Cut off the flow of amyloid beta to the brain and you can eliminate what is widely believed — though not proven — to be a cause of the disease. Do that, and you could bend the course of this devastating illness in millions of people with mild to moderate forms of the disease.

And Merck $MRK just spent a fortune to demonstrate that it may well be completely wrong.