Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (a rare brain infection). Vasogenic edema (fluid buildup in the brain). Elan
Yesterday, Elan and its partner Wyeth
Dropping the highest dose in a phase 3 trial is rarely a good thing. There's a reason why drugmakers choose the doses that they decide to use in phase 3 trials: The highest dose almost always has the highest effectiveness -- and often the worst level of side effects. The worst-case scenario is that bapineuzumab turns in the same lackluster performance that Human Genome Sciences'
Bapineuzumab does have one advantage: Current Alzheimer's treatments such as Pfizer's
Aside from the news about the higher dose, investors need to settle in for a long wait for the trials altogether. The bapineuzumab trials aren't fully enrolled yet, and the treatments will last for 18 months. If you're going to own Elan now, you should be investing because you think that Elan and Biogen Idec
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