Further trials of "exciting" Alzheimer's treatment scheduled

Less than 24 hours after it claimed to be "on the cusp" of producing a treatment for Alzheimer's, US pharmaceutical manufacturer Eli Lilly and Co has announced a new study of its most promising drug.

Lilly completed trials of the solanezumab drug this summer but it failed to gain approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Although there were doubts about the effectiveness of the drug during the two trials, Lilly claims that analysis of the combined results demonstrate a 34 per cent reduction in "cognitive decline" of patients with mild Alzheimer's.

The company now plan to conduct further trials of the drug in the coming year before submitting it for approval once more.

David Ricks, president of Lilly Bio-Medicines, said that he was "encouraged and excited" by solanezumab and its potential as an effective treatment for Alzheimer's.

He added: "We are committed to working with the FDA and other regulatory authorities to bring solanezumab to the millions of patients and caregivers suffering from this devastating disease."

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