ELAN has ceased the two highest doses in clinical trials of one of its main Alzheimer’s treatments following the deaths of nine people, even though those deaths have not been directly linked to the trial.

Irish-based drug company Elan, as well as Transition Therapeutics, have dropped the two highest doses of their experimental Alzheimers drug from a clinical trial following nine deaths.

IRISH pharmaceutical firm Elan will have to restructure its €1 billion strategic development deal with US healthcare giant Johnson & Johnson (J&J) before the end of this month.

ELAN — which earlier this week announced tentative plans to partner with an international pharmaceutical company to boost its Alzheimer’s treatment roll-out — has won a significant US patent for one of its in-trial treatments for that condition.

THE Irish Stock Exchange closed in positive territory yesterday ending up 32 points better off at 6,424.