Back in December 2021, after conducting several years of research and initial testing, Cassava Sciences revealed the first phase III trial for their experimental drug, Simufilam, aimed at treating Alzheimer's disease. By August 2022, more than 400 patients were eagerly waiting to participate. However, just yesterday, after a 52-week clinical trial that included 804 participants, the company announced that the test was unsuccessful, leading them to halt the drug's development, for now.
Disappointment for Patients and Families
"The outcomes are disheartening for those battling this illness and their loved ones, as well as the doctors seeking new therapies. We took careful steps to include patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease. Still, the cognitive decline in the group receiving the placebo was not as severe as what we’ve seen in earlier placebo-controlled trials for Alzheimer's. We’re working on understanding this more thoroughly," stated Rick Barry, the President and CEO of Cassava Sciences. He also mentioned that the upcoming testing phase, which was previously scheduled, has been canceled.
Looking to the Future
More information on the data from this unsuccessful trial can be found in the press release linked below. Now, Cassava Sciences may need to pivot and focus on making SavaDx a marketable product quickly to have a good chance of survival. SavaDx is currently described as "an early-stage product candidate" that aims "to detect Alzheimer's disease through a simple blood test," leveraging the scientific work from the Simufilam initiative. However, due to the recent failure, SavaDx might also face discontinuation.
Stock Market Reaction
After reaching a peak of $34 earlier this week, SAVA shares are now hovering around $4, showing no signs of bouncing back from yesterday's decline, which brought the stock slightly below the $4 mark. For those wanting to learn more about Alzheimer's, a condition that impacts over 5 million individuals in the United States, consider checking out "Alzheimer's Through the Stages: A Caregiver's Guide," available on Amazon starting at $7.99 in Kindle format.
