Amgen, Novartis to Test Alzheimer’s Drug

Amgen Inc. and Novartis International, a Swiss biopharmaceutical company, have launched a new clinical trial to assess the effectiveness of their co-developed drug for the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease in high-risk patients. The “Generation 2” study – a complement to the firms’ ongoing “Generation 1” study, which began in 2015 – will examine whether the drug CNP520 can prevent or delay the onset of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease in patients who are genetically predisposed to it. CNP520 is purported to slow the production of amyloid beta, a protein that accumulates in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients. “Through a unique combination of genetic testing and counseling in cognitively healthy adults, the Generation 2 study exhibits an innovative approach that may offer insight towards Alzheimer’s prevention for those at highest risk for developing the disease,” Executive Vice President Dr. Sean Harper said in a statement. The study is being conducted in partnership with Banner Alzheimer’s Institute, a division of Phoenix-based nonprofit health care system Banner Health, as part of its Alzheimer’s Prevention Initiative. Amgen and Novartis have been co-developing treatments for migraine and Alzheimer’s disease since 2015. The companies agreed to share the cost of domestic marketing for migraine medication erenumab – trade name Aimovig – in April. In July, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration accepted Amgen’s biologics license application for Aimovig in the prevention of migraine; the agency has set a Prescription Drug User Fee Act target action date of May 17, 2018. The companies announced the new clinical trial on Thursday. Amgen stock (AMGN) rose $1.73, or less than 1 percent, to close Friday at $173.44 on the Nasdaq.