Lilly Alzheimer’s drug trial yields promising sign

INDIANAPOLIS — Eli Lilly’s potential Alzheimer’s disease treatment failed to slow mental decline in two late-stage studies, but combined data from both trials showed promising results in patients with mild-to-moderate cases of the mind-robbing disease.

The Indianapolis drugmaker says pooled data from both studies showed a statistically significant slowing of cognitive or mental decline, as did a subgroup of patients with mild cases of the disease.

Lilly will discuss the results with regulators and plan the next steps for the drug, labeled solanezumab (sol-ah-NAYZ-uh-mab).

There is no cure for the illness that affects a person’s memory and their ability to think. Current treatments only temporarily ease symptoms such as memory loss, confusion and agitation. They don’t slow, stop or reverse mental decline.

Lilly’s stock rose 3 percent to $43.75 in premarket trading.