Eli Lilly and Company and AstraZeneca Announce Continuation of Pivotal Clinical Trial for People with Early Alzheimer's Disease

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) and AstraZeneca today announced that AMARANTH, a Phase 2/3 study of AZD3293, an oral beta secretase cleaving enzyme (BACE) inhibitor currently in development as a potential treatment for early Alzheimer’s disease, will continue to Phase 3 of the Phase 2/3 seamless trial.
According to the news:

AZD3293 has been shown in Phase 1 studies to reduce levels of amyloid beta in the cerebro-spinal fluid of people with Alzheimer’s and healthy volunteers. The progression of Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by the accumulation of amyloid plaque in the brain. BACE is an enzyme associated with the development of amyloid beta. Inhibiting BACE is expected to prevent the formation of amyloid plaque and eventually slow the progression of the disease.

Phyllis Ferrell, vice president and global development leader for Alzheimer’s disease at Lilly commented:

This is an important and meaningful step forward on the path to better understand the Alzheimer’s puzzle. We’d like to thank the AMARANTH participants and the trial investigators for taking part in this important study, and thank our colleagues at AstraZeneca for their partnership.

Click here to view the full press release.