Blarcamesine Shows Promise in Reducing Alzheimer’s Biomarkers in Phase 2b/3 Trial

A recent study by Anavex Life Sciences has unveiled promising results for their
investigational Alzheimer’s agent, blarcamesine. The phase 2b/3 trial,
conducted across multiple centers, focused on patients with early Alzheimer
disease and demonstrated significant reductions in pathological amyloid-ß levels. 

In the trial, blarcamesine-treated participants exhibited increases in plasma Aβ42/40 ratios,
emphasizing the drug’s strong anti-amyloid effects. Furthermore, MRI scans
revealed a significant reduction in brain volume loss among patients,
indicating a slowing of neurodegeneration. Marwan Noel Sabbagh, MD, emphasized
the potential of blarcamesine in slowing cognitive decline, particularly given
its oral administration and excellent safety profile. 

The multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study included 508 participants
from five countries. They were divided into two groups: 338 received
blarcamesine, while 170 were given a placebo. Over the 48-week period, the
cognitive and functional efficacy of the drug was assessed using the
Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive and the Alzheimer’s Disease
Cooperative Study-Activities of Daily Living subscales. 

Results showed a statistically significant difference
between the blarcamesine and placebo groups in terms of cognitive decline and
brain atrophy. Specifically, the differences in least-squares mean change from
baseline to 48 weeks were −1.783 for ADAS-Cog and −0.456 for the Clinical
Dementia Rating Scale Sum of Boxes. 

Anavex Life Sciences has been committed to developing treatments for neurodegenerative
diseases. Their CEO, Christopher U Missling, PhD, expressed gratitude for the
contributions of everyone involved in the study, highlighting the importance of
advancing blarcamesine as a potential oral treatment option for Alzheimer’s disease. 

While the study’s findings are encouraging, further research is necessary to confirm these
results and fully understand the long-term effects of blarcamesine. As Anavex continues its clinical development, the scientific community remains hopeful for
new treatments that can effectively slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. 

Refer to this article for additional information. 

More about Anavex on https://www.biospace.com/article/releases/anavex-life-sciences-reports-fiscal-2024-first-quarter-financial-results-and-provides-business-update/