Cochrane Review Shakes Alzheimer's Amyloid Drug Debate

A Cochrane review has reignited the scientific dispute over amyloid-targeting Alzheimer's drugs, arriving alongside a cluster of high-profile regulatory and clinical developments reshaping the biotech landscape. The review adds academic weight to longstanding skepticism about whether clearing amyloid plaques translates into meaningful clinical benefit, a question that has divided neurologists and drug developers for years. On the regulatory front, the FDA is convening outside advisory panels to reconsider whether compounding pharmacies can produce a range of peptides it had previously moved to restrict. The first panel meeting is scheduled for July, with a subsequent session before February 2027, giving compounders a potential path back into a market the agency had been tightening. Eli Lilly disclosed that its oral GLP-1 drug Foundayo demonstrated non-inferiority to insulin glargine in a cardiovascular outcomes trial involving patients with type 2 diabetes and obesity, with an FDA submission planned by end of Q2 under the Commissioner's National Priority Review Voucher. Roche separately confirmed it will run an additional trial of the Sarepta-developed Duchenne gene therapy Elevidys to pursue European approval, where Roche holds ex-U.S. rights.