Ms. Vear wants to try her father on bexarotene, though she does have concerns about possible side effects.

WSJ: Alzheimer's Families Clamor for Drug

Patents on bexarotene will start to expire this year, and once a generic is available, doctors could prescribe that less-expensive version off-label, undercutting the commercial prospects.

WSJ: Alzheimer's Families Clamor for Drug

In February, when results in mice were published suggesting that a skin-cancer drug, bexarotene, was beneficial for Alzheimer's, many patients or their families started calling their doctors to ask whether they should use it off-label.

WSJ: Immune-Disorder Drug Shows Promise for Alzheimer's

Bexarotene, marketed by Japan-based Eisai Co.

WSJ: Alzheimer's Families Clamor for Drug

Randi Stummer, who lives in Columbus, Ohio, isn't ready to ask a doctor to put her 72-year-old mother on the medicine, but she is worried enough about her mother's memory issues that she wants to find out more about bexarotene and would be willing to consider putting her in a clinical trial.

WSJ: Alzheimer's Families Clamor for Drug