Evidence map›Paper›PMID 30376649›Full record

ArticleExpert opinion on biological therapy2018

Grasping at straws: the failure of solanezumab to modify mild Alzheimer's disease.

Sheila A Doggrell

Abstract readComment
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Expert opinion on biological therapy, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
1.4field-weighted citation impact, top 19% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 22 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
  3. Review
  4. Review
  5. Review
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  8. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

1 author at 1 institution in 1 country.

Sheila A Doggrella Faculty of Health , Queensland University of Technology , Brisbane , Australia.
Queensland University of Technology · AU

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionThe amyloid-beta (Aβ) cascade hypothesis is that reducing Aβ levels in the brain will be beneficial in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Solanezumab is a humanized analog of a murine antibody that selectively targets the central domain of the soluble form of Aβ. In the EXPEDITION 1 and 2 Phase 3 clinical trials, solanezumab was shown to be ineffective in subjects with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease, and to have no effect on brain Aβ burden. Areas covered: This evaluation considers the secondary analysis of (EXPEDITION 1 and 2), which led to the EXPEDITION 3 trial of solanezumab in subjects with mild Alzheimer's disease, and the results of EXPEDITION 3. Expert opinion: The secondary analysis of EXPEDITION 1 and 2 was limited to mild Alzheimer's disease, and showed improvements on some scales, but not others. This analysis did not report data on Aβ burden. In my opinion, this was a questionable basis to undertake a further phase trial with solanezumab. The EXPEDITION 3 trial of solanezumab in subjects with mild Alzheimer's disease was terminated early for ineffectiveness. With hindsight, solanezumab should have been discontinued after EXPEDITION 1 and 2, especially as it had not been shown to reduce Aβ burden.

Indexed as

Alzheimer DiseaseAmyloid beta-PeptidesAnimalsAntibodies, Monoclonal, HumanizedMiceAmyloid beta-PeptidesAntibodies, Monoclonal, HumanizedsolanezumabAlzheimer’s diseaseamyloid-βEXPEDITION clinical trialssolanezumab

Identifiers

PMID30376649
OpenAlexW2899489599

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.