> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.fdaweb.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Verubescesat Unlikely to Succeed in Alzheimer’s: Merck
- URL: https://www.fdaweb.com/verubescesat-unlikely-to-succeed-in-alzheimers-merck/
- Published: 2018-02-14T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-14T23:22:25.000Z
- Author: David McFarland
- Tags: Drugs, #legacy-id-D5140764

Merck says it is ending its APECS Phase 3 study evaluating verubecesat, an investigational small molecule inhibitor of the beta-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme, in people with prodromal Alzheimer’s disease. The company [says](Merck%20%28NYSE:%20MRK%29,%20known%20as%20MSD%20outside%20the%20United%20States%20and%20Canada,%20today%20announced%20that%20it%20will%20be%20stopping%20protocol%20019,%20also%20known%20as%20the%20APECS%20study,%20a%20Phase%203%20study%20evaluating%20verubecestat%20%28MK-8931%29,%20an%20investigational%20small%20molecule%20inhibitor%20of%20the%20beta-site%20amyloid%20precursor%20protein%20cleaving%20enzyme%201%20%28BACE1%29,%20in%20people%20with%20prodromal%20Alzheimer’s%20disease%20%28AD%29.%20The%20decision%20to%20stop%20the%20study%20follows%20a%20recommendation%20by%20the%20external%20Data%20Monitoring%20Committee%20%28eDMC%29,%20which%20assessed%20overall%20benefit/risk%20during%20a%20recent%20interim%20safety%20analysis.%20The%20eDMC%20concluded%20that%20it%20was%20unlikely%20that%20positive%20benefit/risk%20could%20be%20established%20if%20the%20trial%20continued.%20Data%20from%20the%20APECS%20study%20will%20be%20presented%20at%20an%20upcoming%20medical%20meeting.) its decision to end the study follows an external data monitoring committee evaluation that indicated it was unlikely that positive benefit/risk could be established if the trial continued.