Lilly Ends Trial Of BACE Inhibitor For Alzheimer’s, But Says Class-Wide Safety Effect Unlikely

With the termination of a Phase II trial of LY2887621, Merck’s MK-8931 leads the race to become the first BACE inhibitor approved for Alzheimer’s, although four other companies have similar candidates in earlier stages of development. Lilly says it may continue to pursue BACE inhibition in Alzheimer’s.

Though Eli Lilly & Co.has had to shut down a clinical trial of its BACE inhibitor in Alzheimer’s disease, the company is trying to assure the Alzheimer’s community that the reason is related to the molecule, not the mechanism of action.

Lilly announced June 14 that it was stopping the Phase II BACC trial for LY2886721 because of abnormal liver-function tests...

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