(WKBW) — Thursday marked a devastating day in the battle against Alzheimer's disease. Pharmaceutical company Biogen and its partner Eisai announced it's ending trials for a promising Alzheimer's medication.
The news that trials for the drug called aducanumab was a huge blow to the Alzheimer's community because this drug was meant to be one of the most promising drugs on the market for combating early-onset Alzheimer's.
The companies ended its trials in Phase Three, not because of safety concerns, but because an independent data monitoring committee determined the trials would not meet the companies' goals.
Regardless, the Alzheimer's community here in Western New York, and beyond, is hopeful that trials of other drugs will work.
"People are disappointed because they really want to see the research impact their lives today, or for future generations," said Rachel Rotach of the Western New York chapter of the Alzheimer's Association. "I know it's disappointing, but I want people to know, do not give up hope. We are still fighting for you."
Rotach said investing in future research is imperative because the number of people living with Alzheimer's is expected to more than double by 2050, and with every trial, the Alzheimer's community learns from the good and the bad, which she hopes will put them one step closer to finding a cure.
