Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN), Novartis and Banner Alzheimer’s Institute today announced the collective decision to discontinue investigation of the BACE1 inhibitor CNP520 (umibecestat) in two pivotal Phase 2/3 studies in the Alzheimer’s Prevention Initiative Generation Program
| THOUSAND OAKS, Calif., July 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Amgen(NASDAQ:AMGN), Novartis and Banner Alzheimer’s Institute today announced the collective decision to discontinue investigation of the BACE1 inhibitor CNP520 (umibecestat) in two pivotal Phase 2/3 studies in the Alzheimer’s Prevention Initiative Generation Program. An assessment of unblinded data during a regular pre-planned review identified worsening in some measures of cognitive function. The sponsors concluded that the potential benefit for participants in the studies did not outweigh the risk. The Generation Program was designed to research the safety and efficacy of CNP520 for the prevention or delay of the onset of Alzheimer’s disease in people at high risk for developing symptoms based on age and their genetic status. Investigators are being informed of the decision and will be contacting their study participants to discontinue the investigational treatment and discuss next steps, including follow-up appointments as appropriate. Alzheimer’s is a complex disease and one of the largest challenges facing healthcare today. The Generation Program sponsors are grateful to the study participants, their study partners, and the medical community who took part in the Generation Program and made important contributions to advancing Alzheimer’s research. “Our team joins the millions whose lives are impacted by Alzheimer’s disease in our disappointment that the Generation Program did not yield a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease prevention,” said David Reese, M.D., executive vice president of Research and Development at Amgen. “We still believe amyloid plays an important but complex role in Alzheimer’s disease. Although the outcomes of the research program did not lead to the results we aimed for, we are committed to sharing our findings to help advance the medical and scientific community one step further toward finding a prevention for this devastating disease.” The study sponsors intend to gain a better understanding of the Generation Program’s data upon further analysis. Relevant data will be presented at a future scientific venue to continue to contribute to the increasing body of knowledge in Alzheimer’s research. About the Amgen and Novartis Neuroscience Collaboration The studies are sponsored by Amgen and Novartis, in collaboration with Banner Alzheimer’s Institute. Novartis is the regulatory sponsor, while Amgen and Novartis are co-development partners. About Amgen Amgen focuses on areas of high unmet medical need and leverages its biologics manufacturing expertise to strive for solutions that improve health outcomes and dramatically improve people’s lives. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen has grown to be the world’s largest independent biotechnology company, has reached millions of patients around the world and is developing a pipeline of medicines with breakaway potential. For more information, visit www.amgen.com and follow us on www.twitter.com/amgen. Amgen Forward-Looking Statements No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual results may differ materially from those Amgen projects. Discovery or identification of new product candidates or development of new indications for existing products cannot be guaranteed and movement from concept to product is uncertain; consequently, there can be no guarantee that any particular product candidate or development of a new indication for an existing product will be successful and become a commercial product. Further, preclinical results do not guarantee safe and effective performance of product candidates in humans. The complexity of the human body cannot be perfectly, or sometimes, even adequately modeled by computer or cell culture systems or animal models. The length of time that it takes for Amgen to complete clinical trials and obtain regulatory approval for product marketing has in the past varied and Amgen expects similar variability in the future. Even when clinical trials are successful, regulatory authorities may question the sufficiency for approval of the trial endpoints Amgen has selected. Amgen develops product candidates internally and through licensing collaborations, partnerships and joint ventures. Product candidates that are derived from relationships may be subject to disputes between the parties or may prove to be not as effective or as safe as Amgen may have believed at the time of entering into such relationship. Also, Amgen or others could identify safety, side effects or manufacturing problems with its products, including its devices, after they are on the market. Amgen’s results may be affected by its ability to successfully market both new and existing products domestically and internationally, clinical and regulatory developments involving current and future products, sales growth of recently launched products, competition from other products including biosimilars, difficulties or delays in manufacturing its products and global economic conditions. In addition, sales of Amgen’s products are affected by pricing pressure, political and public scrutiny and reimbursement policies imposed by third-party payers, including governments, private insurance plans and managed care providers and may be affected by regulatory, clinical and guideline developments and domestic and international trends toward managed care and healthcare cost containment. Furthermore, Amgen’s research, testing, pricing, marketing and other operations are subject to extensive regulation by domestic and foreign government regulatory authorities. Amgen’s business may be impacted by government investigations, litigation and product liability claims. In addition, Amgen’s business may be impacted by the adoption of new tax legislation or exposure to additional tax liabilities. If we fail to meet the compliance obligations in the corporate integrity agreement between us and the U.S. government, we could become subject to significant sanctions. While Amgen routinely obtains patents for its products and technology, the protection offered by its patents and patent applications may be challenged, invalidated or circumvented by its competitors, or Amgen may fail to prevail in present and future intellectual property litigation. Amgen performs a substantial amount of its commercial manufacturing activities at a few key manufacturing facilities, including in Puerto Rico, and also depends on third parties for a portion of its manufacturing activities, and limits on supply may constrain sales of certain of its current products and product candidate development. We rely on collaborations with third parties for the development of some of our product candidates and for the commercialization and sales of some of our commercial products. In addition, Amgen competes with other companies with respect to many of its marketed products as well as for the discovery and development of new products. Further, some raw materials, medical devices and component parts for Amgen’s products are supplied by sole third-party suppliers. Certain of Amgen’s distributors, customers and payers have substantial purchasing leverage in their dealings with Amgen. The discovery of significant problems with a product similar to one of Amgen’s products that implicate an entire class of products could have a material adverse effect on sales of the affected products and on its business and results of operations. Amgen’s efforts to acquire other companies or products and to integrate the operations of companies Amgen has acquired may not be successful. A breakdown, cyberattack or information security breach could compromise the confidentiality, integrity and availability of Amgen’s systems and Amgen’s data. Amgen’s stock price may be volatile and may be affected by a number of events. Amgen’s business performance could affect or limit the ability of the Amgen Board of Directors to declare a dividend or its ability to pay a dividend or repurchase its common stock. Amgen may not be able to access the capital and credit markets on terms that are favorable to it, or at all. CONTACT: Amgen, Thousand Oaks
SOURCE Amgen | ||
Company Codes: NASDAQ-NMS:AMGN |
View original content to download multimedia:
