Lilly plans another study for Alzheimer's drug

Eli Lilly plans another study of a possible Alzheimer's treatment that showed some potential to help mild cases of the fatal, mind-robbing disease.

The new study will delay a regulatory decision on what could become a breakthrough treatment for a disease that has no cure. The additional research may provide data that supports approval of the drug.

The Indianapolis drugmaker says it will conduct the additional, late-stage study of solanezumab (sol-ah-NAYZ-uh-mab) in patients with mild cases of Alzheimer's, but it hasn't determined details.

In August, Lilly said the potential treatment failed to slow memory decline in two separate studies. But scientists saw a statistically significant slowing when they combined trial data.

Doctors and analysts have said they expected Eli Lilly and Co. to do more research before seeking approval.