With populations aging and dementia cases multiplying, Alzheimer's looked like a promising investment opportunity for pharmaceutical companies. But now, highlights an analysis in the Independent, the drug giants seem to be having second thoughts: the failure of a series of studies on promising drug candidates, which proved to be ineffective, has led many companies to judge the search for a cure for dementia too difficult and expensive.
At least five studies in the last five years have produced disappointing results. A Pfizer-backed trial of Dimebon this year showed no benefit. With something like $750 million in investment lost by the company. In July, then bapineuzumab, developed by Elan in collaboration with Pfizer and J&J, did not show an impact on the symptoms of the disease. A disappointment experienced in August by Eli Lilly, who reported the failure of solanezumab, the second 'flop' anti-Alzheimer's drug in two years.
In 2010, then, tests on semagacestat even showed a worsening of symptoms. A series of missteps that have dealt a serious blow to the confidence of drug makers in the field of neuroscience.
Result? The recession has put pressure on pharmaceutical makers worldwide, but neurosciences have been hit hard, with AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Merck, Sanofi, Novartis and GSK downsizing European departments.
Speaking at a conference organized by the UK's Science Media Centre, Eric Karran, research director at Alzheimer Research GB, stressed that 'neuroscience is a very challenging area. All companies are losing jobs, but neuroscience has the highest attrition rate.'
Margherita Lopes – September 24, 2012 – PharmaKronos
