INDIANAPOLIS (December 12, 2012)--Eli Lilly plans another study of a possible Alzheimer's treatment that showed some potential to help mild cases of the fatal, mind-robbing disease.

The new study will delay a regulatory decision on what could become a breakthrough treatment for a disease that has no cure, but could data that support approval of the drug.

The Indianapolis drug maker said it will conduct the additional, late-stage study of solanezumab in patients with mild cases of Alzheimer's, but it hasn't determined details.

In August, Lilly said the potential treatment failed to slow memory decline in two separate studies, but scientists saw a statistically significant slowing when they combined trial data.

Doctors and analysts have said they expected Eli Lilly and Co. to do more research before seeking approval.