A scientist at the center of controversy regarding an Alzheimer’s drug candidate, Hoau-Yan Wang, has been charged with fraud. A federal grand jury indicted Wang, a professor at the City College of New York, on Thursday for allegedly falsifying data to secure approximately $16 million in grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Dr. Wang’s research has been crucial for studies related to a diagnostic test for Alzheimer’s disease and simufilam, a drug that is currently in advanced clinical trials. The Texas-based pharmaceutical company Cassava Sciences claims that simufilam enhances cognition in Alzheimer’s patients.
With around six million Americans affected by Alzheimer’s—expected to double by 2050—there is immense interest in promising treatments. Each positive trial result has driven Cassava’s stock price higher. However, some scientists have criticized the drug, questioning its mechanism and results. Accusations of manipulated results have been levied against both the company and Dr. Wang, prompting several journals to retract or express concern over his published works.
Following the announcement of the indictment, Cassava’s stock fell to its lowest point since October 2020. Remi Barbier, Cassava’s CEO, has yet to respond to inquiries but stated on the company’s website that Dr. Wang’s research was linked to early drug development phases. He emphasized that Wang and his former university had no role in the ongoing Phase 3 clinical trials of simufilam.
An investigation by the City University of New York encountered difficulties accessing Dr. Wang’s files but ultimately concluded that he had been “reckless” in failing to maintain or present original data, amounting to serious research misconduct. The university pledged full cooperation with federal investigations.
Dr. Wang is accused of falsifying data in grant applications over nearly eight years, concluding in April 2023, with some grants financing his salary and laboratory research. The Justice Department has charged him with multiple counts of fraud and false statements, potentially resulting in a maximum sentence of 55 years if convicted. The case is under investigation by the FBI’s Washington field office, and the indictment was filed in Maryland, home to the NIH.
Renate Myles, a spokeswoman for the NIH, stated that the agency takes research misconduct seriously but does not comment on specific grant compliance reviews. She assured that all allegations are reviewed promptly and carefully.