Boehringer-Ingelheim issued the following announcement on Feb. 9.
Boehringer Ingelheim announced that their Phase II Alzheimer’s disease trials with investigational compound BI 409306 had not met their efficacy endpoints and plans for further trials with BI 409306 in AD will therefore not be pursued. Instead, the company will refocus efforts on the ongoing schizophrenia trials with this compound.
These Alzheimer’s disease trials were part of an extensive clinical trial programme exploring the efficacy of compounds which target malfunctioning of specific (glutamatergic) brain circuits as potential new treatments for specific symptoms and traits of a mental illness. As such, the investigational compound BI 409306 was explored in patients with cognitive impairment and those with memory dysfunction in schizophrenia and in Alzheimer’s disease. Further investigations will focus on two studies in schizophrenia, aimed at prevention of relapse and at prevention of occurrence of a first psychotic episode.
Boehringer Ingelheim’s continued engagement in the dementia field is confirmed by the planned phase II trials investigating another compound, BI 425809, a GlyT1 inhibitor, in a range of central nervous system indications which also include Alzheimer’s disease.
“We recognise the immense anticipation around any progress in brain research that brings us closer to finding solutions for the many millions of people living with dementia. However, this is what research is about: disappointments are a daily experience in science, but even these clinical trial results will add to the understanding of brain function and contribute to future progress in this area.” said Dr Jan Poth, Therapeutic Area Head CNS and Immunology at Boehringer Ingelheim.
“Starting from our systematic neurobiological approach to CNS research, we will continue to build innovative approaches in our clinical trials and help advance the field in collaboration with the wider scientific community. We won’t rest.” added Stephane Pollentier, Therapeutic Area Head Medicine CNS at Boehringer Ingelheim.
Following a comprehensive review of the complete trial data, Boehringer Ingelheim intends to present the full results at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference® (AAIC) 2018 in July this year.
Mental illness remains one of the greatest health, social and economic challenges of our time and despite intensive efforts over many years, there is still no cure for Alzheimer’s and little in the way of treatments (see also www.ep-ad.org (link is external)). As supporters of the “We won’t rest (link is external)” - initiative from European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), Boehringer Ingelheim is determined to progress a deeper understanding of the brain pathways impacting mental illness. The recent Phase II trial results will add to the body of evidence and help refine CNS clinical trial programmes in the future.
Original source can be found here.
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