The Washington Post reports that a decision by Pfizer to not pursue a “costly clinical trial” to verify the effect “the company’s blockbuster rheumatoid arthritis therapy Enbrel” could have on Alzheimer’s disease shows how determinations “made by industry executives – who are ultimately accountable to shareholders – can have impact well beyond corporate board rooms.” The case raises questions about what obligations a company has “to spread potentially beneficial information about a drug.” According to company spokesman Ed Harnaga, “science was the sole determining factor against moving forward.” However, “some outside scientists disagree with Pfizer’s assessment that studying Enbrel’s potential in Alzheimer’s prevention is a scientific dead end,” and “outside researchers contacted by The Post believe Pfizer also should at least have published its data, making the findings broadly available to researchers.”

From the news release of the American Association for Justice.