Merck Still Sees Path Forward For Failed Alzheimer's Drug

A number of Alzheimer drug trials have fallen through in the last few months, and on Tuesday, Merck & co., Inc. MRK added its verubecestat to the list of inefficacious treatments.

The series of failed tests have inspired questions about the amyloid hypothesis on which recent treatments rest.

The hypothesis entertains the idea that clearing beta amyloid buildups in the brain could cure Alzheimer's.

“It is too early to speculate on what the EPOCH trial results mean for the validity of the amyloid hypothesis,” said Pamela Eisele, a spokesperson for Merck.

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The company noted in its press release it will continue studying verubecestat in patients with prodromal Alzheimer’s disease — a condition known as APECS.

“It is hoped that by evaluating verubecestat in people at the earlier prodromal stage, who have lower levels of damage to the brain, we will be better able to slow disease progression,” Eisele said. “This trial is fully enrolled and the results are expected to be available in February 2019.”

Merck's stock closed Wednesday at $65.16. Shares are up 10 percent in 2017.