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An Alzheimer’s drug trial failing is, unfortunately, nothing new. This one, however, had more baggage behind it than most.
Like all of these things, it was worth a try. It’s an interesting molecule with a reasonable mechanism of action.
But the trials have been raising questions for a few years, with allegations of misconduct against the drug’s co-discoverer Hoau-Yan Wang. He’s been indicted for defrauding the National Institutes of Health of $16 million in grants related to the drug. There have been concerns over doctored images and other not-so-minor issues in trying to move simufilam forward. Cassava itself agreed to pay the Securities and Exchange Commission $40 million in 2024 to settle charges about misleading investors.
Yet, like an innocent child with criminal parents, many of us hoped that the drug would work, regardless of the ethical shenanigans behind it. On the front lines we deal with a tragic disease that robs people of what makes them human and robs the families who have to live with it.
As the wheels started to come off the bus I told a friend, “it would be really sad if this drug is THE ONE and it never gets to finish trials because of everything else.”
Now we know it isn’t. Regardless of the controversy, the final data show that simufilam is just another placebo, joining the ranks of many others in the Alzheimer’s development graveyard.
Yes, there is a vague sense of jubilation behind it. I believe in fair play, and it’s good to know that those who misled investors and falsified data were wrong and will never have their day in the sun.
At the same time, however, I’m disappointed. I’m happy that the drug at least got a chance to prove itself, but when it’s all said and done, it doesn’t do anything.
I feel bad for the innocent people in the company, who had nothing to do with the scheming and were just hoping the drug would go somewhere. The majority, if not all, of them will likely lose their jobs. Like me, they have families, bills, and mortgages.
But I’m even more disappointed for the patients and families who only wanted an effective treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, and were hoping that, regardless of its dirty laundry, simufilam would work.
They’re the ones that I, and many other neurologists, have to face every day when they ask “is there anything new out?” and we sadly shake our heads.
Dr. Block has a solo neurology practice in Scottsdale, Arizona.
An Alzheimer’s drug trial failing is, unfortunately, nothing new. This one, however, had more baggage behind it than most.
Like all of these things, it was worth a try. It’s an interesting molecule with a reasonable mechanism of action.
But the trials have been raising questions for a few years, with allegations of misconduct against the drug’s co-discoverer Hoau-Yan Wang. He’s been indicted for defrauding the National Institutes of Health of $16 million in grants related to the drug. There have been concerns over doctored images and other not-so-minor issues in trying to move simufilam forward. Cassava itself agreed to pay the Securities and Exchange Commission $40 million in 2024 to settle charges about misleading investors.
Yet, like an innocent child with criminal parents, many of us hoped that the drug would work, regardless of the ethical shenanigans behind it. On the front lines we deal with a tragic disease that robs people of what makes them human and robs the families who have to live with it.
As the wheels started to come off the bus I told a friend, “it would be really sad if this drug is THE ONE and it never gets to finish trials because of everything else.”
Now we know it isn’t. Regardless of the controversy, the final data show that simufilam is just another placebo, joining the ranks of many others in the Alzheimer’s development graveyard.
Yes, there is a vague sense of jubilation behind it. I believe in fair play, and it’s good to know that those who misled investors and falsified data were wrong and will never have their day in the sun.
At the same time, however, I’m disappointed. I’m happy that the drug at least got a chance to prove itself, but when it’s all said and done, it doesn’t do anything.
I feel bad for the innocent people in the company, who had nothing to do with the scheming and were just hoping the drug would go somewhere. The majority, if not all, of them will likely lose their jobs. Like me, they have families, bills, and mortgages.
But I’m even more disappointed for the patients and families who only wanted an effective treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, and were hoping that, regardless of its dirty laundry, simufilam would work.
They’re the ones that I, and many other neurologists, have to face every day when they ask “is there anything new out?” and we sadly shake our heads.
Dr. Block has a solo neurology practice in Scottsdale, Arizona.
An Alzheimer’s drug trial failing is, unfortunately, nothing new. This one, however, had more baggage behind it than most.
Like all of these things, it was worth a try. It’s an interesting molecule with a reasonable mechanism of action.
But the trials have been raising questions for a few years, with allegations of misconduct against the drug’s co-discoverer Hoau-Yan Wang. He’s been indicted for defrauding the National Institutes of Health of $16 million in grants related to the drug. There have been concerns over doctored images and other not-so-minor issues in trying to move simufilam forward. Cassava itself agreed to pay the Securities and Exchange Commission $40 million in 2024 to settle charges about misleading investors.
Yet, like an innocent child with criminal parents, many of us hoped that the drug would work, regardless of the ethical shenanigans behind it. On the front lines we deal with a tragic disease that robs people of what makes them human and robs the families who have to live with it.
As the wheels started to come off the bus I told a friend, “it would be really sad if this drug is THE ONE and it never gets to finish trials because of everything else.”
Now we know it isn’t. Regardless of the controversy, the final data show that simufilam is just another placebo, joining the ranks of many others in the Alzheimer’s development graveyard.
Yes, there is a vague sense of jubilation behind it. I believe in fair play, and it’s good to know that those who misled investors and falsified data were wrong and will never have their day in the sun.
At the same time, however, I’m disappointed. I’m happy that the drug at least got a chance to prove itself, but when it’s all said and done, it doesn’t do anything.
I feel bad for the innocent people in the company, who had nothing to do with the scheming and were just hoping the drug would go somewhere. The majority, if not all, of them will likely lose their jobs. Like me, they have families, bills, and mortgages.
But I’m even more disappointed for the patients and families who only wanted an effective treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, and were hoping that, regardless of its dirty laundry, simufilam would work.
They’re the ones that I, and many other neurologists, have to face every day when they ask “is there anything new out?” and we sadly shake our heads.
Dr. Block has a solo neurology practice in Scottsdale, Arizona.