NEW YORK -(Dow Jones)- A small, mid-stage study suggested that an experimental drug from Eli Lilly & Co. (LLY) may have helped remove a substance from the brain that is believed to play a role in Alzheimer's disease.

The study found no benefit in patients' cognitive ability, but researchers said this was to be expected because treatment only lasts 12 weeks. Lilly said Wednesday it planned to begin a larger, late-stage study of the drug next year.

Results of the study were being presented at the International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease in Chicago Wednesday afternoon.

Lilly's drug is designed to bind to a substance in the brain called beta- amyloid, and to alter its characteristics. There is a scientific theory that a buildup of beta-amyloid is responsible for Alzheimer's, a disease that impairs memory and typically affects the elderly.

The study examined a compound code-named LY2062430 in 52 people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. They received intravenous infusions of either a fake drug or varying doses of the experimental treatment over about 12 weeks. Also, an additional 16 volunteer study participants received a single dose of the treatment.

Researchers found that after administration of Lilly's drug, the amount of beta-amyloid in the blood, which is thought to be bound to the Lilly drug, increased substantially. This could suggest that by binding to the substance, the Lilly drug may begin to dissolve the amyloid plaques that are present in the brains of Alzheimer's patients. Researchers also found increased beta-amyloid in cerebrospinal fluid.

No change in patients' cognitive scores was observed, which Lilly said was expected for study of such short duration. The potential effect on cognition is likely to be the focus of planned late-stage studies.

Lilly said the treatment was well tolerated by patients in the study, and there was no evidence of treatment-related brain inflammation, bleeding or other side effects. The most common side effect of the drug in studies so far has been mild chills consistent with an infusion reaction.

-By Peter Loftus, Dow Jones Newswires; 215-656-8289; peter.loftus@dowjones.com

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  (END) Dow Jones Newswires
  07-30-08 1615ET
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