Anavex Life Sciences’ Blarcamesine Shows Promise in Early Alzheimer’s Treatment
Anavex Life Sciences’ Blarcamesine Shows Promise in Early Alzheimer’s Treatment
Recent findings from Anavex Life Sciences’ Phase 2b/3 clinical trial reveal that their
investigational agent, blarcamesine, significantly reduces amyloid-ß biomarkers
in patients with early Alzheimer’s disease.
Anavex’s promising development could mark a pivotal advancement in
Alzheimer’s treatment, addressing both cognitive decline and neurodegeneration.
Anavex’s study (NCT03790709), which included 508 participants from five countries, utilized a
multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design. Participants
received either blarcamesine or a placebo daily for 48 weeks. The primary
endpoints focused on cognitive and functional efficacy, measured by the
Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive (ADAS-Cog) and the Alzheimer’s
Disease Cooperative Study-Activities of Daily Living (ADCS-ADL) subscales.
In terms of biomarker analysis, blarcamesine demonstrated significant efficacy. Patients
treated with the agent showed notable increases in the plasma Aβ42/40 ratio,
reinforcing blarcamesine’s strong anti-amyloid effect. Furthermore, MRI scans
indicated a significant reduction in brain volume loss, including whole brain
atrophy, when compared to the placebo group.
Dr. Marwan Noel Sabbagh, a prominent neurology professor, hailed the results, emphasizing the
potential of therapies like blarcamesine that target Alzheimer’s disease beyond
amyloid reduction. He highlighted the convenience of the oral administration
route and the agent’s excellent safety profile as key advantages.
Safety data from the trial indicated that the most common adverse event associated with
blarcamesine was transient dizziness, mostly mild to moderate in severity. This
side effect was reported in 35.8% of participants during titration and 25.2%
during maintenance, compared to 6.0% and 5.6% in the placebo group, respectively.
Christopher U Missling, PhD, President and CEO of Anavex Life Sciences, expressed optimism about the findings. He stressed the importance
of such clinical advancements in addressing Alzheimer’s disease and
acknowledged the contributions of all participants and researchers involved in the study.
As research continues, Anavex Life Sciences remains
committed to exploring the full potential of blarcamesine, positioning it as a
significant contender in the quest for effective Alzheimer’s treatments.
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