“While we are disappointed in the results of the two bapineuzumab IV studies, particularly in light of the urgent need for new advancements in Alzheimer’s disease, we believe that targeting and clearing beta amyloid remains a promising path to potential clinical benefits for people suffering from this disease,” said Dr. Husseini K. Manji, global therapeutic area head for neuroscience at Janssen Research & Development LLC. “Janssen remains strongly committed to tackling the enormous unmet medical needs in Alzheimer’s disease. We believe the trial results will provide a rich data set that will advance our understanding of this complex disease and inform future research in this field. Studies with other compounds in earlier stages of development in the AIP portfolio are continuing and future development strategies will be discussed jointly by the alliance partners.”  

 

“We are obviously very disappointed in the outcomes of this trial. We are also saddened by the lost opportunity to provide a meaningful advance for patients afflicted with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers,” echoed Dr. Steven J. Romano, senior vice president and head of the Medicines Development Group, Global Primary Care Business Unit, Pfizer Inc. “Yet these data, and the subgroup and biomarker analyses underway, will further inform our understanding of this complex disease and advance research in this field.”

 

While there was hope and hype around bapineuzumab, analysts like Damien Conover of Morningstar and Anthony Butler of Barclays Capital point out that most investors didn’t have high expectations for the drug’s success, but there is a sense of emotional disappointment nonetheless because of the impact of Alzheimer’s disease and desires for a cure.