AstraZeneca and Eli Lilly to continue Alzheimer's trial

Pharmaceuticals AstraZeneca and Eli Lilly have decided to continue a pivotal clinical trial for a potential treatment for early Alzheimer’s disease.

AstraZeneca said on Friday that Amaranth, a phase II/III study of AZD3293, an oral beta secretase cleaving enzyme (BACE) inhibitor currently in development as a potential treatment, will continue into phase III of the phase II/III seamless trial.

Menelas Pangalos, executive vice president of AstraZeneca’s IMED Biotech Unit, said: "Alzheimer's disease remains one of the biggest challenges facing medical science today. BACE inhibitors have the potential to target one of the key drivers of disease progression and we are delighted that our combined efforts have resulted in the development of AZD3293 moving into the next phase of study.

“Disease modifying approaches, such as this, have the potential to transform the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and help patients in this area of large unmet medical need."

AstraZeneca said AZD3293 has been shown in phase I studies to reduce levels of amyloid beta in the cerebro-spinal fluid of people with Alzheimer's disease and healthy volunteers.

The progression of Alzheimer's disease is characterised 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.

Under the terms of the agreement, AstraZeneca will receive a further milestone payment of $100m (£71m)from Lilly now that AZD3293 will move into Phase III testing.

The payment will be reported as externalisation revenue in AstraZeneca's financial statements and does not affect the company’s financial guidance for 2016.