Why Did AstraZeneca's Alexion Stop Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Trial?

AstraZeneca Inc's AZN newly acquired Alexion division will stop developing a treatment for the neurological disorder amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) due to lack of efficacy in a late-stage trial.
Following an interim analysis, Alexion says it will scrap a Phase 3 study testing the long-acting C5 inhibitor Ultomiris as a treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Since starting in January 2020, the trial has enrolled 382 patients, per trial records.
All of them will now stop taking study medication, either Ultomiris or placebo, and complete any necessary follow-up evaluations.
The Independent Data Monitoring Committee recommended trial discontinuation "due to lack of efficacy," Alexion said, as measured by the ALS functional rating scale-revised (ALSFRS-R) score.
No safety concerns were reported.
Related content: Benzinga's Full FDA Calendar.
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