Galantamine Edge in AD
First long-term head to head study shows it is superior to donepezil
VIENNA
Galantamine (Reminyl) exhibits a superior treatment profile than donepezil (Aricept) for patients with Alzheimer's Disease, according to results of the first one-year head to head study of the two drugs. The long-term, rater-blinded, randomized study presented at the sixth congress of the European Federation of Neurological Societies in Vienna last year showed that over one year, patients treated with Reminyl had statistically superior scores on measures of cognition and attention compared with those on donepezil.
Reminyl was shown to significantly improve a patient's attention within six weeks of commencing treatment using a validated computerized test for assessing cognitive performance. The computerized assessment made by the independent Cognitive Drug Research showed that patients taking Reminyl significantly improved their choice reaction times (CRT) after only six weeks of treatment. At 52 weeks, Reminyl patients' CRT had been maintained at baseline levels. Patients treated with donepezil had no significant changes in CRT throughout the study.
The improvement in attention is thought to be due to Reminyl's action on nicotinic receptors. Explains Dr. Roger Bullock of the Kingshill Research Center: "Reminyl is different from other acetylcholinesterase inhibitors because it increases the levels of acetylcholine by two separate mechanisms. It has also been shown to enhance activity of nicotinic receptors. Nicotinic receptors are known to be important in maintaining attention and concentration. These results demonstrate the importance of Reminyl's dual mode of action."
He adds that being able to improve a patient's ability to take part in family events by increasing their attention and concentration adds an important, but often neglect, quality to the lives of both patients and their careers.
Patients treated with Reminyl were also more likely to improve or maintain their level of dementia throughout the study compared with patients taking donepezil. This was shown in the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) assessment scale for AD, which measures cognition by testing functions such as memory, orientation, and language. Used by most clinicians daily, it MMSE is recommended by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence.
At 13 and 26 weeks, the MMSE score for Reminyl was significantly improved from baseline. At 52 weeks, patients kept their baseline score. On then other hand, patients treated with donepezil only saw significant improvement above baseline after 13 weeks. At 26 weeks, their score returned to baseline values; and to below baseline levels at 52 weeks. For patients less severely affected by AD, (those who fitted the NICE criteria for treatment with AD drugs with a baseline MMSE score of 12 to 18 points) the results were even more favorable for Reminyl. Reminyl was significantly superior to donepezil at all time points measured throughout the 52-week study.
Reminyl was comparable to donepezil in safety and tolerability, with similar discontinuation rates during the study and similar numbers of patients continuing on therapy after the end of the study.
The primary end point for the study was the Bristol Activities of Daily Living (BADL) rating scale, which measures a patient's ability to function. Patients treated with Reminyl and donepezil performed equally well in this assessment.
Reminyl was developed by Johnson & Johnson and Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development under a co-development and licensing agreement with UK-based Shire Pharmaceuticals Group plc. Reminyl is marketed in the UK and Ireland by Shire Pharmaceutical Products Ltd., and by Janssen Pharmaceutica Products and Ortho-Mc Neil Pharmaceutical in the United States, Janssen-Ortho in Canada and Janssen-Cilag in other countries. PRNewswire-First Call
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