Copenhagen: Novo Nordisk has announced that its major Alzheimer drug trial has failed to meet its main target, dealing a blow to hopes that the company’s widely used diabetes and obesity medicine could also help slow memory loss.

The trial tested an oral form of semaglutide, the same ingredient used in the company’s popular diabetes and weight treatment medicines. The study involved adults with early stage Alzheimer disease and aimed to find out whether the drug could slow the progress of memory decline. However, the company confirmed that the trial did not show a clear benefit when compared with a placebo.

According to Novo Nordisk, the results did not prove that the medicine could slow the worsening of cognitive problems. While some improvements were seen in certain disease markers, these findings were not strong enough to show real clinical benefit for patients.

The company had viewed the study as a high risk but high reward opportunity. Scientists had hoped that medicines originally designed for diabetes could also help protect the brain. Early signals from other studies had created expectations, but the final results did not match those hopes.

Investors reacted sharply to the news. Novo Nordisk shares fell around ten percent and dropped to their lowest level in more than four years. Analysts say the failure is a setback for the company’s plans to expand its research beyond metabolic diseases.

Alzheimer disease affects more than fifty million people worldwide, and the search for effective treatments remains extremely difficult. Many companies have tried and failed to find medicines that can meaningfully slow the illness.

Novo Nordisk said it will review the full data before making decisions about next steps. The company added that semaglutide will continue to be used for diabetes, obesity and related health conditions, where it has already shown strong results.

The full trial findings are expected to be discussed at an upcoming medical conference in early December.