What happened Shares of Cassava Sciences (NASDAQ: SAVA), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, gained 26.6% as of 3:05 p.m. EDT on Wednesday. Investors are anticipating a new set of clinical-trial data from the company's lead candidate, simufilam, to be presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) later this month. So what The FDA's controversial approval of Aduhelm from Biogen (NASDAQ: BIIB) this June has many retail investors excited about the next potential Alzheimer's disease treatment. More than 6 million Americans are living with this progressive and ultimately fatal form of dementia, and the only available treatment isn't supported by evidence of efficacy. Image source: Getty Images. Cassava Sciences stock jumped higher on Wednesday because the company simply announced an upcoming presentation at AAIC's annual conference. On July 29, 2021, the company will present new data from a phase 2 trial with simufilam, a potential first-in-class stabilizer of a structural protein called filamin A. Now what Signs that simufilam can help slow down patients' loss of cognitive abilities have been encouraging and worthy of further study. At recent prices, though, Cassava Sciences sports a $4.6 billion market cap. That's a lot for a company with no products to sell and one experimental drug in mid-stage testing. Last September, Cassava Sciences showed how 28 days of treatment with simufilam significantly reduced signs of worsening dementia as measured from samples of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Cognitive measurements from this phase 2 study showed signs of a benefit compared to a placebo, but the company hasn't even started a phase 3 trial that could support a new drug application. 10 stocks we like better than Cassava Sciences, Inc.When our award-winning analyst team has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.* They just revealed what they believe are the ten best stocks for investors to buy right now... and Cassava Sciences, Inc. wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of June 7, 2021 Cory Renauer has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Biogen. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.Source