In a continuation of bad news for investigative Alzheimer’s drugs, Roche has halted five early and midstage trials covering a range of therapeutic categories, including Alzheimer’s drugs. The Swiss pharma admits that two of its most exciting prospects remain high-risk.

The drugmaker also confirmed it had removed a phase 2 trial for giredestrant for second and third line estrogen receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer after missing the mark in April. However, the Big Pharma has by no means given up on the estrogen receptor degrader, with three phase 3 trials ongoing for a range of breast cancers.

“We hope for the best, but don’t plan on that basis,” said Severin Schwan, who announced today that he would become chairman of the company, to be replaced as CEO by Thomas Schinecker, Ph.D., the current head of the diagnostics division.

From Fierce Biotech