Experimental Alzheimer's Drug Halted
Drug Flurizan Didn't Meet Maker's Goals in Latest Tests
July 2, 2008 -- It's the end of the road for Flurizan, an experimental Alzheimer's disease drug, after disappointing results in its latest study.
Myriad Genetics, which was developing Flurizan, says it's discontinuing work on the drug.
In a preliminary study recently published in The Lancet, Flurizan looked like it might slow functional decline in Alzheimer's patients.
But in Flurizan's latest study -- an 18-month trial in patients with mild Alzheimer's disease -- Flurizan didn't meet the researchers' benchmark for its effects on cognition (mental skills) and daily activities.