NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J., Aug. 6, 2012 -- Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) today announced that phase 3 clinical development of bapineuzumab intravenous (IV) in mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease is being discontinued.
Janssen Alzheimer Immunotherapy (Janssen AI), a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, is a partner with Pfizer in the Alzheimer's Immunotherapy Program (AIP). The Joint Steering Committee for the AIP has decided to discontinue the development of bapineuzumab IV in mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease based on the co-primary clinical endpoints not being met in the Janssen AI-led Studies 301 and 302. Pfizer has issued separate news releases on the top line results of both of these Janssen AI-led studies.
"While we are disappointed in the results of the two bapineuzumab IV studies, particularly in light of the urgent need for new advancements in Alzheimer's disease, we believe that targeting and clearing beta amyloid remains a promising path to potential clinical benefits for people suffering from this disease," said Husseini K. Manji, M.D., Global Therapeutic Area Head for Neuroscience, Janssen Research & Development, LLC. "Janssen remains strongly committed to tackling the enormous unmet medical needs in Alzheimer's disease.
We believe the trial results will provide a rich data set that will advance our understanding of this complex disease and inform future research in this field. Studies with other compounds in earlier stages of development in the AIP portfolio are continuing and future development strategies will be discussed jointly by the alliance partners."
The Company expects to record an after-tax, non-cash special item related to in-process research and development consisting of a net charge to earnings of between $300 and $400 million in the third quarter of 2012 related to the discontinuation of the phase 3 clinical development of bapineuzumab IV in mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease.
