Sage Therapeutics Faces Uncertainty After Halting Dalzanemdor Development Amid Clinical Failures

Sage Therapeutics has decided to halt the development of dalzanemdor following its failure to meet the primary endpoint in a Phase II trial for Huntington’s disease[2]. This NMDA receptor modulator had also underperformed in previous trials for Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, failing to outperform a placebo in measures of cognitive function and secondary outcomes such as visual attention and task-switching[3]. The discontinuation of the dalzanemdor program results in significant financial ramifications for Sage, necessitating cost-cutting measures like a 33% workforce reduction, as the company pivots to focus its resources on commercially viable products such as Zurzuvae[2][3].