One amyloid candidate left for Biogen, Eisai after axing BACE trials

Despite ending two Phase III trials of BACE inhibitor elenbecestat Friday, Biogen and Eisai have not walked away from the amyloid hypothesis of Alzheimer’s disease. The partners' Phase III trial of anti-amyloid mAb BAN2401 forges on, treating about 1,600 more patients with an amyloid agent.

Biogen Inc. (NASDAQ:BIIB) and Eisai Co. Ltd. (Tokyo:4523) said they are terminating the Phase III MISSION AD1 and AD2 trials of β-site APP-cleaving enzyme (BACE) inhibitor elenbecestat based on a DSMB safety analysis. BACE is one of the enzymes that cleaves amyloid precursor protein to yield β-amyloid, which has been the prime suspect in Alzheimer’s for decades...