Lilly’s Alzheimer’s Drug Will Get ‘Easier Ride’ Than Aduhelm But Does Not Show Clinical Benefit, Prof Says

 
• By Brenda Sandburg
  
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Harsh assessment of Lilly’s Phase II study by UCL and UCSF professors suggests donanemab may face same hurdles as Biogen’s Aduhelm. Lilly exec says the drug slowed disease progression by six months, but UCL prof says that won’t make a difference.

Alzheimer's disease
Experts question clinical benefit of Lilly's Alzheimer's disease drug • Source: Alamy

Eli Lilly and Company won praise from prominent professors for meeting the primary endpoint in the Phase II trial of its Alzheimer’s disease drug donanemab. But they don’t believe it means much for patients since the study did not show any clinically meaningful benefit. Their reaction is a sign that Lilly could face the same kind of difficulties that have plagued Biogen, Inc.’s Aduhelm (aducanumab-avwa).

“Congratulations to Lilly for performing the only trial of this class of drugs that has actually hit its endpoint,” Rob...

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