Reversibility of cognitive worsening observed with BACE inhibitor umibecestat in the Alzheimer's Prevention Initiative (API) Generation Studies.

Introduction: The Alzheimer's Prevention Initiative (API) Generation Studies evaluated the BACE inhibitor umibecestat for Alzheimer's disease (AD) prevention. The studies were terminated early, and the reversibility of umibecestat's side effects was assessed.

Methods: Cognitively unimpaired 60- to 75-year-old apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 homozygotes and heterozygotes (the latter with elevated brain amyloid deposition) (n = 1556) received umibecestat (50 or 15 mg daily) or placebo for 7 months on average and were followed for a median (interquartile range) of 4 (3 to 6) months after washout.

Revised criteria for the diagnosis and staging of Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer’s disease can be treated by targeting amyloid-β plaques and diagnosed in vivo by biomarkers, prompting the revision of criteria for the diagnosis and staging of this disease.

Effects of the active amyloid beta immunotherapy CAD106 on PET measurements of amyloid plaque deposition in cognitively unimpaired APOE ε4 homozygotes.

Introduction: Alzheimer's Prevention Initiative Generation Study 1 evaluated amyloid beta (Aβ) active immunotherapy (vaccine) CAD106 and BACE-1 inhibitor umibecestat in cognitively unimpaired 60- to 75-year-old participants at genetic risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD). The study was reduced in size and terminated early. Results from the CAD106 cohort are presented.

Operationalizing selection criteria for clinical trials in Alzheimer's disease: Biomarker and clinical considerations.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) staging criteria lack standardized, empirical description. Well-defined AD staging criteria are an important consideration in protocol design, influencing a more standardized inclusion/exclusion criteria and defining what constitutes meaningful differentiation among the stages. However, many trials are being designed on the basis of biomarker features and the two need to be coordinated.

Rationale for the selection of dual primary endpoints in prevention studies of cognitively unimpaired individuals at genetic risk for developing symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.

Background: There is a critical need for novel primary endpoints designed to detect early and subtle changes in cognition in clinical trials targeting the asymptomatic (preclinical) phase of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The Alzheimer's Prevention Initiative (API) Generation Program, conducted in cognitively unimpaired individuals at risk of developing AD (e.g.

The Alzheimer's Prevention Initiative Composite Cognitive Test: a practical measure for tracking cognitive decline in preclinical Alzheimer's disease.

Background: There is growing interest in identifying sensitive composite cognitive tests to serve as primary endpoints in preclinical Alzheimer's disease (AD) treatment trials. We reported previously a composite cognitive test score sensitive to tracking preclinical AD decline up to 5 years prior to clinical diagnosis. Here we expand upon and refine this work, empirically deriving a composite cognitive test score sensitive to tracking preclinical AD decline up to 11 years prior to diagnosis and suitable for use as a primary endpoint in a preclinical AD trial.

The Alzheimer's Prevention Initiative Generation Program: Study design of two randomized controlled trials for individuals at risk for clinical onset of Alzheimer's disease.

Introduction: Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology, including the accumulation of amyloid beta (Aβ) species and tau pathology, begins decades before the onset of cognitive impairment. This long preclinical period provides an opportunity for clinical trials designed to prevent or delay the onset of cognitive impairment due to AD. Under the umbrella of the Alzheimer's Prevention Initiative Generation Program, therapies targeting Aβ, including CNP520 (umibecestat), a β-site-amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme-1 (BACE-1) inhibitor, and CAD106, an active Aβ immunotherapy, are in clinical development in preclinical AD.

The BACE-1 inhibitor CNP520 for prevention trials in Alzheimer's disease.

The beta-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme-1 (BACE-1) initiates the generation of amyloid-β (Aβ), and the amyloid cascade leading to amyloid plaque deposition, neurodegeneration, and dementia in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Clinical failures of anti-Aβ therapies in dementia stages suggest that treatment has to start in the early, asymptomatic disease states. The BACE-1 inhibitor CNP520 has a selectivity, pharmacodynamics, and distribution profile suitable for AD prevention studies.

Measuring cognition and function in the preclinical stage of Alzheimer's disease.

The Alzheimer's Association's Research Roundtable met in November 2016 to explore how best to measure changes in cognition and function in the preclinical stage of Alzheimer's disease. This review will cover the tools and instruments currently available to identify populations for prevention trials, and measure subtle disease progression in the earliest stages of Alzheimer's disease, and will include discussions of suitable cognitive, behavioral, functional, composite, and biological endpoints for prevention trials. Current prevention trials are reviewed including TOMMOROW, Alzheimer's Prevention Initiative Autosomal Dominant Alzheimer's Disease Trial, the Alzheimer's Prevention Initiative Generation Study, and the Anti-Amyloid Treatment in Asymptomatic Alzheimer's to compare current approaches and tools that are being developed.

Active Aβ immunotherapy CAD106 in Alzheimer's disease: A phase 2b study.

Introduction: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 90-week study assessed safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of CAD106 with/without adjuvant in patients with mild Alzheimer's disease.

Methods: One hundred twenty-one patients received up to seven intramuscular injections of CAD106 (150 μg or 450 μg) or placebo ± adjuvant over 60 weeks. An amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) substudy was also conducted.

Mavoglurant in Parkinson's patients with l-Dopa-induced dyskinesias: Two randomized phase 2 studies.

Background: Two phase 2 randomized, double-blind studies were designed to evaluate efficacy and safety of immediate-release (study 1) and modified-release (study 2) mavoglurant formulations in PD l-dopa-induced dyskinesia.

Methods: Patients were randomized to mavoglurant 100-mg or placebo (4:3) groups (study 1) and mavoglurant 200-mg, mavoglurant 150-mg, or placebo (2:1:1) groups (study 2). Primary outcome was antidyskinetic efficacy, as measured by change from baseline to week 12 in modified Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale total score.

Long-term treatment with active Aβ immunotherapy with CAD106 in mild Alzheimer's disease.

Introduction: CAD106 is designed to stimulate amyloid-β (Aβ)-specific antibody responses while avoiding T-cell autoimmune responses. The CAD106 first-in-human study demonstrated a favorable safety profile and promising antibody response. We investigated long-term safety, tolerability and antibody response after repeated CAD106 injections.

Active immunotherapy options for Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia and a major contributor to disability and dependency among older people. AD pathogenesis is associated with the accumulation of amyloid-beta protein (Aβ) and/or hyperphosphorylated tau protein in the brain. At present, current therapies provide temporary symptomatic benefit, but do not treat the underlying disease.

Mavoglurant (AFQ056) in combination with increased levodopa dosages in Parkinson's disease patients.

Long-term use of levodopa (L-dopa) in patients with Parkinson's disease is associated with development of dyskinesia. This study explored whether Parkinson's disease patients with L-dopa-induced dyskinesia experience improved OFF-time from higher L-dopa doses without worsening of dyskinesias when receiving adjunctive mavoglurant. Patients with moderate-to-severe L-dopa-induced dyskinesia were randomized to receive mavoglurant or placebo.

AFQ056 in Parkinson patients with levodopa-induced dyskinesia: 13-week, randomized, dose-finding study.

AFQ056 is a novel, selective metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 antagonist. This was a 13-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Patients with Parkinson's disease and moderate-to-severe levodopa (l-dopa)-induced dyskinesia who were receiving stable l-dopa/anti-parkinsonian treatment and were not currently receiving amantadine were randomized to receive either AFQ056 (at doses of 20, 50, 100, 150, or 200 mg daily) or placebo (1:1:1:1:2:3 ratio) for 12 weeks.

Safety, tolerability, and antibody response of active Aβ immunotherapy with CAD106 in patients with Alzheimer's disease: randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, first-in-human study.

Background: Immunotherapy targeting the amyloid β (Aβ) peptide is a potential strategy to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease. We aimed to assess the safety and tolerability of CAD106, a novel active Aβ immunotherapy for patients with Alzheimer's disease, designed to induce N-terminal Aβ-specific antibodies without an Aβ-specific T-cell response.

Methods: We did a phase 1, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 52-week study in two centres in Sweden.

A 24-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of the rivastigmine patch in Japanese patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Background: As of 2010, the rivastigmine patch was licensed for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in 64 countries.

Methods: This 24-week, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluated the efficacy, safety and tolerability of the 5-cm(2) (9-mg loading dose; 4.6 mg/24 h delivery rate) and 10-cm(2) (18-mg loading dose; 9.

The NK1-receptor antagonist TKA731 in painful diabetic neuropathy: a randomised, controlled trial.

Substance P is one of the neurotransmitters released by primary nociceptive neurons in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord and it binds postsynaptically to NK(1)-receptors. This receptor is therefore an obvious target for analgesic drugs. The aim of this multicenter, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled and parallel-group study was to test if the non-peptide NK(1)-receptor antagonist TKA731 would relieve painful diabetic polyneuropathy.