By Fineline Cube 
Simcere Pharmaceutical Group (HKG: 2096) has reportedly discontinued research and development of its Alzheimer’s disease (AD) drug candidates, according to recent media reports. This decision comes after the company’s partnership with Germany-based Vivoryon Therapeutics yielded underwhelming results.
Background on Collaboration
In June 2021, Simcere established a collaboration with Vivoryon to develop and commercialize two AD therapies in Greater China: Varoglutamstat, an oral small-molecule QPCT inhibitor targeting N3pE amyloid, and PBD-C06, a monoclonal N3pE antibody.
Clinical Setbacks
In March 2024, Vivoryon released data from the Phase IIb VIVIAD study, which showed that Varoglutamstat failed to demonstrate significant efficacy in early AD patients. Varoglutamstat received clinical study approval in China in February 2022 and remains “ongoing, not yet recruiting.” Meanwhile, PBD-C06 has shown no substantial progress since the collaboration began.
Current Status
While these pipeline assets have been removed from Simcere’s official website and annual reports, company insiders claim the AD projects are “not officially terminated.”-Fineline Info & Tech