Apr 3, 2009

Elan, Wyeth Slide On Alzheimer's Drug Setback

By Val Brickates Kennedy

Shares of partners Elan Corp. (ELN) and Wyeth (WYE) both moved lower Thursday after the companies said they were discontinuing part of a Phase III clinical trial for their Alzheimer's treatment bapineuzumab over safety issues.

More specifically, the companies will halt a segment of the study using the product at its highest dose over concerns that it could be triggering the accumulation of water in the brain in some cases, a condition known as vasogenic edema.

Similar issues were also seen in certain patients enrolled in a Phase II trial of the therapy.

Wyeth and Elan plan to continue other arms of the Phase III trial that are using lower doses of the antibody-based therapy.

Shares of Elan were down 2.89% at $6.39 while Wyeth shares dipped 0.69% to $43.00.

-By Val Brickates Kennedy ; 415-439-6400; AskNewswires@dowjones.com

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