NEW YORK (AP) — Eli Lilly and Co. said Thursday that it stopped a mid-stage clinical trial of an experimental Alzheimer's disease drug because of potential side effects on patients' livers.
The company stopped testing LY2886721 because of abnormal results in liver biochemical tests. Lilly says the results were found as part of routine monitoring and it will continue to monitor all patients.
The Indianapolis company will evaluate data from the trial before deciding on the next steps for the drug. Lilly says it may continue development of similar drugs. Lilly will take a charge related to stopping the trial, but it won't affect its full-year guidance.
About 35 million people worldwide have dementia. Alzheimer's is the most common type and there are around 5 million patients in the U.S. Approved drugs like Aricept and Namenda temporarily ease symptoms, but there is no cure.
