Lilly seeks new partner to manage A4 Alzheimer’s disease study

Lilly has ended its contract with the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) pertaining to the management of its A4 (Anti-amyloid Treatment in Asymptomatic Alzheimer's disease) drug trial.

The university has been responsible up to this point for managing the study, which aims to assess solanezumab in the preclinical stage of Alzheimer's disease in older individuals who have evidence of amyloid in their brains but do not show symptoms of memory impairment.

However, a number of key UCSD staff responsible for overseeing the project left the university this summer to join the University of Southern California, sparking a legal conflict between the two academic organisations.

In light of this dispute, Lilly has decided that ending UCSD's participation in the study would be the best course of action, with joint efforts now taking place to transition management of the trial to a new partner.

The US National Institutes of Health (NIH) and multiple philanthropic organisations have provided funding for the study.

Phyllis Ferrell, Alzheimer's platform leader for Lilly, said: "We are extremely grateful for the ongoing efforts of the A4 study participants, study investigators and the NIH. We wish to thank UCSD for its work to date and cooperation as the A4 study transitions."