Promising Alzheimer's Drug Fails in Clinical Trial

by Jessie Hill | December 13, 2016

Eli Lilly’s trial drug solanezumab did not pass muster in a closely watched clinical trial. It was hoped that the drug would slow cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s patients, but trials showed that the drug did not provide significant results for Alzheimer’s patients. While those taking the drug did have less decline in cognitive function than those in the placebo group, the difference was not enough to warrant Eli Lilly pursuing approval to market the drug. Results from solanezumab seemed to be better for dementia patients in early stages of the disease than those whose disease progression was further along.

This is disappointing, not only for Eli Lilly, who invested close to a billion dollars in this drug, but for the families of Alzheimer’s patients all over the globe, who feel helpless as they watch their loved ones decline.

When there are drugs that provide only marginal benefit, families of dementia patients are faced with the dilemma of potentially investing a lot of money for minimal results, and with the possibility of side effects.

Natural Remedies for Alzheimer's and Dementia

While pharmaceutical companies will continue to pursue drugs to slow the progression of Alzheimer's, research also continues on natural remedies for Alzheimer's such as coconut oil,¹  vitamin B-12,² and Cinnamon Extract. ³

Resources:

1. J Alzheimers Dis. 2014;39(2):233-7. doi: 10.3233/JAD-131436.
Coconut oil attenuates the effects of amyloid-β on cortical neurons in vitro.

2. J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol. 2005 Mar;18(1):33-8.
Neuropsychology of vitamin B12 deficiency in elderly dementia patients and control subjects.

3. Published online 2011 Jan 28. doi:  10.1371/journal.pone.0016564
PMCID: PMC3030596
Orally Administrated Cinnamon Extract Reduces β-Amyloid Oligomerization and Corrects Cognitive Impairment in Alzheimer's Disease Animal Models

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Natural Remedies for Alzheimer's