title: Efficacy of xanomeline in Alzheimer disease: cognitive improvement measured using the Computerized Neuropsychological Test Battery (CNTB).
abstract: The cognitive efficacy of the M1-selective muscarinic agonist xanomeline in mild-to-moderate Alzheimer disease (AD) was measured using the Computerized Neuropsychological Test Battery (CNTB) and the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive Subscale (ADAS-cog) in this 17-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Three hundred forty-three patients were randomly assigned to receive 25, 50, or 75 mg xanomeline tartrate or placebo three times daily (t.i.d.) for 24 weeks, followed by placebo for 4 weeks in a single-blind washout phase. Cognitive function was assessed at randomization and after 4, 8, 12, 24, and 28 weeks. Three hundred nineteen patients were included in an intent-to-treat (ITT) analysis; 209 completers had evaluable data at week 24. ITT analysis showed a significant (p < or = 0.05) dose-response trend and a significant (p < or = 0.05) between-group comparison favoring 75 mg t.i.d. over placebo for the CNTB summary score but not for the ADAS-cog. In the completer analysis, however, the ADAS-cog showed a significant (p < or = 0.05) dose-response trend and between-group comparison, whereas the CNTB Summary Score did not. The ADAS-cog was less sensitive to treatment effects in mildly impaired patients (ADAS-cog < 21) than in moderately impaired patients (ADAS-cog > or = 21), whereas the CNTB was sensitive in the entire study population (mean ADAS-cog = 22.5+/-9.6). Significant (p < or = 0.05) beneficial treatment effects were seen in measures of simple reaction time and delayed verbal recall, which are included in the CNTB but not in the ADAS-cog. During the single-blind placebo washout period, the ADAS-cog score of the placebo group worsened dramatically (change of 2.63 points; p < or = 0.001), whereas the CNTB score remained stable (change of 1.04 points; p=0.694). Thus, the CNTB appears to be more objective than the ADAS-cog.
authors.affiliation: California Clinical Trials, Beverly Hills, USA.
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Veroff
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Bodick
authors.forename: W W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Offen
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Sramek
authors.forename: N R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Cutler
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D018721:Muscarinic Agonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011725:Pyridines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D013830:Thiadiazoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018721:Muscarinic Agonists; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D011725:Pyridines; D013830:Thiadiazoles; C075257:xanomeline