Elan's Phase III dash

Final Phase II data released last week from a Phase II trial of bapineuzumab in Alzheimer’s disease raised red flags, especially after Elan Corp. plc and partner Wyeth had put a positive spin on preliminary data released in June. But Elan said there is no point in doing more Phase II work on the mAb, as the questions raised require the size of the Phase III trials the companies started last December.

Bapineuzumab targets beta amyloid, the primary component of amyloid plaques that is considered to be the causative agent in the pathology of the disease...