Japan's Otsuka to stop development of Alzheimer's disease drug (updated)

Otsuka Holdings

22/05/2024 13:30

(Adds background throughout)
       May 22 (Reuters) - Japan's Otsuka Pharmaceutical said on
Wednesday it would stop developing an experimental drug to treat
agitation and restlessness caused by symptoms of Alzheimer's
disease. 
    The drug candidate, AVP-786, failed to show statistically
significant improvement of agitation associated with Alzheimer's
dementia in a late-stage study, Otsuka said.
     Alzheimer's is a progressive brain disorder which causes a
decline in memory, thinking, learning and organizing skills. The
disease is the most common type of dementia.
    Agitation associated with dementia has a large impact on the
quality of life for the patients, and is reported in about half
of all patients with Alzheimer's dementia, according to Otsuka. 
    Otsuka Pharmaceutical's parent Otsuka Holdings  4578.T  is
mainly engaged in the medical and nutraceuticals related
business. 

 (Reporting by Mariam Sunny in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel
and Sriraj Kalluvila)
 ((Mariam.ESunny@thomsonreuters.com;))