Randomized,double-blind study of zervimesine in mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease

Abstract

Background

Zervimesine (CT1812) is a first-in-class, brain-penetrant sigma-2 receptor ligand that prevents binding and displaces Aβ₄₂ oligomers from receptors on neuronal synapses.

Objective

This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of zervimesine in mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Methods

This was a Phase 2, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Participants were randomized to zervimesine 100 mg or 300 mg or placebo. In addition to ADAS-Cog11, outcomes were evaluated from baseline plasma p-tau217 in prespecified subgroups.

Results

Of 153 adults randomized, 150 were included in the mITT population. Adverse events occurred in 70.6% with zervimesine 100 mg, 82.4% with zervimesine 300 mg, and 78.0% with placebo. At Day 182, the ADAS-Cog 11 increased from baseline (indicating a decline in cognitive function) with the LS mean (SE) change of 2.69 (0.81) points in the placebo group versus 1.66 (0.60) points in the pooled zervimesine group [δ = −1.03 (−3.01, 0.96), p = 0.310]. For participants with baseline plasma p-tau217 levels below the median (1.0 pg/mL), the pooled zervimesine group showed greater improvement on the ADAS-Cog 11 at Day 182 relative to placebo (δ = −2.66; p = 0.080).

Conclusions

This phase 2 study indicated that zervimesine was safe and well tolerated and showed consistently favorable numerical treatment differences versus placebo. More robust treatment differences were observed in the below median baseline plasma p-tau217 group suggesting potentially greater efficacy of zervimesine in less advanced AD. These results support larger pivotal trials with zervimesine.

Registered at clinicaltrials.gov: NCT03507790