Merck stopping Phase III study of BACE inhibitor

Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE:MRK) said it will halt the Phase II/III EPOCH study of verubecestat (MK-8931) to treat mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease based on findings of an external data monitoring committee (DMC), which determined the study had "virtually no chance of finding a positive clinical effect."

Merck will continue the Phase III APECS study, which is evaluating the beta-site APP-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) inhibitor to treat prodromal AD. Merck expects results in February 2019 from that trial...