Neurotrophic factor frustration

Last month, Amgen Inc.'s recombinant glial-derived neurotrophic factor became the latest in almost a decade's worth of clinical failures for the class. But researchers still believe in the therapeutic potential of neurotrophic factors based on continued preclinical progress, and AMGN has not said whether it will continue or drop the program.

There's no clear, single reason for the multiple failures over the years. Potential causes range from a lack of predictive animal models to dosing and delivery issues in humans. ...