Safety and Efficacy of Edonerpic Maleate for Patients With Mild to Moderate Alzheimer Disease: A Phase 2 Randomized Clinical Trial

Key Points

Question  Is edonerpic maleate, an experimental drug that protects against neurotoxic effects, preserves synapses, and improves memory deficits in preclinical models related to Alzheimer disease, efficacious and safe for patients with Alzheimer disease?

Findings  In this randomized phase 2 clinical trial that included 484 patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer disease treated with cholinesterase inhibitors with or without memantine, neither dose of edonerpic improved cognition or function over 52 weeks compared with placebo. Edonerpic also did not have clear effects on amyloid, tau, or brain magnetic resonance imaging biomarkers.

Meaning  In advancing from preclinical testing, edonerpic has not demonstrated clinical proof of concept in Alzheimer disease.

Importance  Edonerpic maleate (T-817MA) protects against Aβ40-induced neurotoxic effects and memory deficits, promotes neurite outgrowth, and preserves hippocampal synapses and spatial memory in tau transgenic mice. These effects may be mediated via sigma-1 receptor activation, delivery of synaptic AMPA receptors, or modulation of microglial function and may benefit patients with Alzheimer disease.

Objective  To assess the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of edonerpic for patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer disease.

Design, Setting, and Participants  Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, phase 2 clinical trial conducted over 52 weeks from June 2, 2014, to December 14, 2016, at 52 US clinical and academic centers. Of 822 outpatients screened, 484 met the following criteria and were randomly assigned to treatment: 55 to 85 years of age, probable Alzheimer disease, Mini-Mental State Examination scores from 12 to 22, and taking stable doses of donepezil or rivastigmine with or without memantine.

Interventions  Random assignment (1:1:1 allocation) to placebo or 224 mg or 448 mg of edonerpic maleate, once per day.

Main Outcomes and Measures  Coprimary outcomes were scores on the Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale–Cognitive Subscale (ADAS-cog) and Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study–Clinical Impression of Change (ADCS-CGIC) at week 52. Biomarkers were brain, lateral ventricular, and hippocampal volumes, as determined on magnetic resonance imaging, and cerebrospinal fluid Aβ40, Aβ42, total tau, and phospho-tau181. The primary efficacy analysis was performed on the coprimary end points for the modified intention-to-treat population.

Results  Of 482 participants in the safety population, 140 of 158 participants (88.6%) assigned to placebo, 117 of 166 participants (70.5%) to 224 mg of edonerpic maleate, and 120 of 158 participants (76.0%) to 448 mg of edonerpic maleate completed the trial. The mean ADAS-cog score change at week 52 was 7.91 for the placebo group, 7.45 for the 224-mg group, and 7.08 for the 448-mg group. Mean differences from placebo were −0.47 (95% CI, −2.36 to 1.43; P = .63) for the 224-mg group and −0.84 (95% CI, −2.75 to 1.08; P = .39) for the 448-mg group. Mean ADCS-CGIC scores were 5.22 for the placebo group, 5.24 for the 224-mg group, and 5.25 for the 448-mg group, with mean differences from placebo of 0.03 (95% CI, −0.20 to 0.25; P = .81) for the 224-mg group and 0.04 (95% CI, −0.19 to 0.26; P = .76) for the 448-mg group. In the safety population, a total of 7 of 158 participants (4.4%) in the placebo group, 23 of 166 participants (13.9%) in the 224-mg group, and 23 of 158 participants (14.6%) in the 448-mg group discontinued because of adverse events. The most frequent adverse events were diarrhea and vomiting.

Conclusions and Relevance  Edonerpic maleate appeared to be safe and tolerable, with expected gastrointestinal symptoms occurring early but without evidence for a clinical effect among patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer disease.

Trial Registration  ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02079909

Edonerpic maleate (T-817MA, 1-{3-[2-(1-benzothiophen-5-yl)ethoxy]propyl}azetidin-3-ol maleate) is a low-molecular-weight compound that protects against Aβ40-induced neurotoxic effects and memory deficits in a rat model,¹ increases cortical and neurite outgrowth in rat hippocampal slices,² preserves hippocampal synapses and spatial memory in tau transgenic P301L mice,³ and enhances neuroplasticity and motor function recovery after injury in nonhuman primates.⁴ These effects may be mediated through sigma-1 receptor activation,⁵ modulation of microglia function,⁶ and interaction with collapsin-response-mediator-protein 2 (CRMP2)⁴ facilitation of synaptic AMPA (α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid) receptor delivery.

Sixteen phase 1 clinical trials, 1 phase 2a trial (NCT00663936),⁷ and 1 phase 2 clinical trial undertaken in Japan (JP201, JapicCTI-142499(ja)) have been completed that included 1068 patients who received medication. Edonerpic maleate was well tolerated at a single dose up to 896 mg and at once-daily doses of 672 mg for up to 2 weeks.

An earlier phase 2a trial⁷ in Alzheimer disease demonstrated safety and tolerability of edonerpic maleate at a 224-mg/d dose during 1 year, a dose expected to achieve exposures sufficient for neuroprotective effects based on the preclinical studies. The trial did not demonstrate efficacy on primary and secondary outcomes, but there was post hoc evidence for a positive cognitive effect in patients with moderate impairment who had Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores less than 20.⁷ The main adverse effect was mild diarrhea during the first 10 weeks of treatment.

The main objectives of this phase 2 trial were to assess efficacy, safety, and tolerability of edonerpic maleate in participants with mild to moderate Alzheimer disease using a higher dose of 448 mg/d and a larger sample. Clinical outcomes were supplemented by assessments of brain volumes as measured on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) amyloid and tau concentrations, and population pharmacokinetics.

This is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group clinical trial with a 52-week treatment period for patients with Alzheimer disease who were taking donepezil hydrochloride or rivastigmine transdermal system with or without memantine hydrochloride prior to baseline. The trial was conducted from June 2, 2014, to December 14, 2016, at 52 sites in the United States. The University of California San Diego Institutional Review Board and each site’s institutional review board approved the trial. The sites obtained written informed consent from all study participants, legally authorized representatives, or both and from participants’ study partners according to local institutional review board regulations.

Participants were required to be between the ages of 55 and 85 years inclusive, have a diagnosis of probable Alzheimer disease by DSM-IV criteria and National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke and the Alzheimer Disease and Related Disorders Association criteria,⁸ brain MRI or computed tomography scan consistent with the clinical diagnosis, MMSE⁹ score from 12 to 22, modified Hachinski score¹⁰ of 4 or less, and a study partner. Participants were required to be taking donepezil or rivastigmine transdermal system, with or without memantine, for at least 4 months and be at stable doses for at least 3 months prior to baseline. Other medications for Alzheimer disease, including other cholinesterase inhibitors and donepezil doses greater than 10 mg/d were not permitted (see the statistical analysis plan for eligibility criteria and trial protocol in Supplement 1).

Study medication was dispensed as identically appearing, film-coated tablets each containing edonerpic maleate, 112 mg (80-mg free base), or placebo. Participants were randomized to 1 of 3 treatment groups: placebo, 224 mg/d of edonerpic maleate, or 448 mg/d of edonerpic maleate in a 1:1:1 allocation using a permuted block randomization, stratified by site and MMSE score. Medication was to be taken once daily after breakfast. The 448-mg group initially received two 112-mg edonerpic maleate tablets and 2 placebo tablets for 4 weeks and then four 112-mg edonerpic maleate tablets for 48 weeks. The 224-mg group received two 112-mg edonerpic maleate tablets and 2 placebo tablets for 52 weeks. The placebo group received 4 placebo tablets for 52 weeks. Medication was manufactured by the Toyama Chemical Co Ltd, packaged in blister packs of 28 tablets, and dispensed at each visit to provide for 1 week beyond the next scheduled visit.

The screening prebaseline period consisted of obtaining informed consent, demographic information, medical history, prior medications, height and weight, vital signs, clinical laboratory test results, electrocardiogram results, MMSE scores, brain imaging results, Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale–cognitive subscales (ADAS-cog) scores¹¹; performing a physical examination; and determining eligibility criteria. A central medical reviewer at the Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study (ADCS) coordinating center determined eligibility and permitted randomization of participants.

After baseline, patients were assessed every 4 weeks for the first 12 weeks, every 6 weeks thereafter until week 36, at week 44, and at week 52 (see eTable 1 in Supplement 2 for trial outline and flow). There was an optional, open-label, 1-year extension period. Safety evaluations were performed at each visit. Efficacy was assessed at weeks 12, 24, 36, 44, and 52. A final safety assessment was conducted 4 weeks after discontinuation of study medications.

Magnetic resonance imaging brain scans were performed during screening and at week 52. A subset of patients agreed to undergo lumbar punctures at baseline and week 52 for the evaluation of CSF biomarkers. Blood was drawn at baseline and weeks 12, 24, 36, 44, and 52 for population pharmacokinetic assessments and APOE (OMIM 107741) genotype at baseline.

Coprimary clinical outcomes were scores on the ADAS-cog and Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study–Clinical Impression of Change (ADCS-CGIC; ie, the Clinician’s Interview-Based Impression of Change with caregiver input)¹² at week 52. Secondary outcomes were scores on the Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study–Activities of Daily Living (ADCS-ADL),¹³ MMSE, Functional Activities Questionnaire,¹⁴ and Neuropsychiatric Inventory¹⁵ at week 52 and scores on the ADAS-cog and ADCS-CGIC at weeks 12, 24, 36, and 44. Biomarkers were whole brain volumes, lateral ventricular volumes, and hippocampal volumes as measured on MRI and CSF concentrations of Aβ40, Aβ42, total tau, and phospho-tau181 (p-tau). Exploratory responder analyses were conducted as part of the statistical analysis plan (eAppendix 1 and eTables 2 and 3 in Supplement 2).

Quarc,¹⁶ a nonlinear MRI registration method, was used to quantify deformation in the whole brain, hippocampus, and lateral ventricle from baseline to 52-week follow-up and to analyze volume changes. Volumes measured using NeuroQuant software (CorTechs Labs Inc) at baseline and week 52 were used post hoc to calculate changes for comparative purposes (eTable 7 in Supplement 2). Magnetic resonance imaging scans were performed using General Electric, Philips, and Siemens 1.5-T and 3.0-T scanners at baseline and week 52 using the same scanner loaded with a defined protocol to ensure that parameters were held constant across visits. Sagittal, nonaccelerated 3-dimensional T1-weighted sequences were acquired. The methods, sequences, across-site standardization, quality checks, and generation of brain volumes have been previously described.^17,18 NeuroQuant software was used for image preprocessing and segmentation.

Levels of Aβ40, Aβ42, and total tau in CSF were assayed using MesoScale Discovery platforms, quantified, and quality controlled by the ADCS Biomarker Core.¹⁷ Phospho-tau181 was detected using FujireBio Innotest enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Baseline and end point CSF specimens from each participant were performed on the same plate. Internal standards were used to adjust for plate-to-plate variation and assess freezer storage effects; the layout of each plate was designed to control for storage time.

Safety assessments included adverse events, vital signs, and electrocardiogram, hematology, chemistry, and urinalysis results at every visit plus physical examinations and the Pediatric Columbia–Suicide Severity Rating Scale¹⁹ prior to baseline and at weeks 12, 24, 36, and 52.

We expected the change in the ADAS-cog score in the placebo group to be 3.5 points and differences between each treatment group and placebo to be 2.5 points at 52 weeks, with an SD of 6.5. The required number of participants to show a significant difference was estimated at 110 per group based on 80% statistical power and a 5%, 2-sided α level. We planned to randomize at least 450 patients (150 per group), expecting 26% to discontinue.

The primary efficacy analysis was performed on the coprimary end points for the modified intention-to-treat population, which included all randomized participants who took at least 1 dose of study medication and had at least 1 efficacy evaluation after baseline. We used separate longitudinal mixed models with repeated measures (MMRM) for each efficacy end point and used SAS PROC MIXED (SAS Institute Inc) to fit an MMRM. Terms in the model were age (covariate), baseline efficacy score (covariate), baseline MMSE score (covariate), clinical site, treatment, apolipoprotein ε4 (APOE ε4) status, time defined categorically, time by treatment interaction, and baseline by time interaction. The covariance structure for the repeated measures was first-order heterogeneous autoregressive to account for decreasing correlation with time between visits. (The MMRM approach assumes that data are missing at random within groups. Although the assumption is not possible to confirm, withdrawals seemed to differ mainly by treatment group and baseline score, which were both included as terms in the model).

A gatekeeper strategy was used to preserve the familywise α error at the 2-sided level of P = .05 between coprimary end points and the multiple doses. The first stage compared the high-dose edonerpic group with the placebo group for ADAS-cog score at P = .05. If statistically significant, then the high-dose group for the ADCS-CGIC score would be formally compared with the placebo group at P = .05. If both comparisons were statistically significant, then the low-dose edonerpic group would similarly be compared with the placebo group.

For MRI volumes, an MMRM model was used, and for CSF concentrations, analysis of covariance was used. A protocol-specified, exploratory responder analysis examined the relationship between clinical outcomes and treatment with response defined as a better score or no change at week 52 compared with baseline on individual and several composite outcomes (eAppendix 1 and eTables 2 and 3 in Supplement 2).

Adverse events were categorized for the safety population, which included all participants who took at least 1 dose of study medication, by seriousness, severity, and relationship to study drug. Adverse events that occurred in 5% or more of any treatment or placebo group were tabulated and analyzed descriptively.

Of the safety population, 140 of 158 participants (88.6%) assigned to placebo, 117 of 166 participants (70.5%) assigned to 224 mg/d of edonerpic maleate, and 120 of 158 participants (76.0%) assigned to 448 mg/d of edonerpic maleate completed the trial. The most common reasons for discontinuation were adverse events and withdrawal of consent (Figure 1; eAppendix 2 in Supplement 2). In the modified intention-to-treat population, women comprised 53.7% of participants (252 of 469), 91.3% (428 of 469) were white, mean age was 71.9 years (range, 55-85 years), 59.7% of those genotyped (280 of 469) were APOE ε4 carriers, 82.3% (386 of 469) were taking donepezil, 17.3% (81 of 469) were using a rivastigmine patch, and 63.1% (296 of 469) were taking memantine (Table 1). Five participants took prohibited donepezil doses of 15 or 23 mg/d.

Of 91 baseline CSF samples, 89 (97.8%) had a positive Alzheimer disease index (>0.81).²⁰ A total of 86 CSF samples (94.5%) had Aβ42 levels below the 592-pg/mL cutoff and 70 (76.9%) had p-tau above the 76.9-pg/mL cutoff.

The mean ADAS-cog score adjusted change at week 52 was 7.91 for the placebo group, 7.45 for the 224-mg edonerpic maleate group, and 7.08 for the 448-mg edonerpic maleate group. The mean differences from placebo were −0.47 (95% CI, −2.36 to 1.43; P = .63) for the 224-mg group and −0.84 (95% CI, −2.75 to 1.08; P = .39) for the 448-mg group. Mean ADCS-CGIC scores were 5.22 for the placebo group, 5.24 for the 224-mg edonerpic maleate group, and 5.25 for the 448-mg edonerpic maleate group. Mean differences from placebo were 0.03 (95% CI, −0.20 to 0.25; P = .81) for the 224-mg group and 0.04 (95% CI, −0.19 to 0.26; P = .76) for the 448-mg group (Table 2; Figure 2A and B).

There were no significant differences between the edonerpic groups and placebo for any of the secondary outcomes, ADCS-ADL score (Figure 2C), MMSE score, Functional Activities Questionnaire score, Neuropsychiatric Inventory score (Table 2), and ADAS-cog or ADCS-CGIC scores at weeks 12, 24, 36, and 44 (eFigure in Supplement 2). None of the individual or composite exploratory responder analyses favored edonerpic treatment; responses using the MMSE and Neuropsychiatric Inventory showed nominally significant effects for placebo (eAppendix 1 and eTables 2 and 3 in Supplement 2).

Magnetic resonance imaging segmentation results were obtained for 412 patients at baseline (55 had computed tomography scans, 3 had nonvolumetric clinical MRI scans, and 14 had MRI scans that were not of sufficient quality or failed quality control processing). Follow-up MRI scans were performed on 325 participants, and 281 pairs of scans (86.5%) were of sufficient quality for registration and analysis with Quarc (Table 2). The main reason for rejection was that 1 or both of the scan pairs had poor image quality for registration and alignment across time points. More participants in the placebo group had baseline and follow-up pairs of analyzable MRI scans than those in the 224-mg and 448-mg groups (107 of 158 [67.7%] vs 89 of 166 [53.6%] vs 85 of 158 [53.8%]). There were no significant differences in deformation of brain and hippocampal volumes between placebo and either dose of edonerpic maleate. There was, however, an increase in ventricular volume in the 448-mg edonerpic maleate group compared with placebo (29.16 procedure-defined units vs 23.17 procedure-defined units) (Table 2). Procedure-defined units reflect percentage of QUARC deformation within a given brain structure.

Ninety-one CSF samples were obtained at baseline, 60 were obtained at week 52, and 59 pairs were available for analysis. There were no differences between groups in the proportion of sample pairs available for analysis (placebo, 18 of 156 [11.5%]; 224 mg, 17 of 159 [10.7%]; and 448 mg, 24 of 154 [15.6%]). Phospho-tau181 and total tau appeared to decrease in the 448-mg group compared with placebo; Aβ42 and Aβ40 comparisons were not significant (eTable 4 in Supplement 2).

The mean (SD) maximum plasma concentration of edonerpic was 271.30 (99.67) ng/mL for the 224-mg group and 618.68 (222.28) ng/mL for the 448-mg group. Mean (SD) area under the curve was 3409.90 (1521.07) ng · h/mL for the 224-mg group and 7345.74 (3390.85) ng · h/mL for the 448-mg group (eTable 5 in Supplement 2).

The mean (SD) plasma level of edonerpic was 437.4 (279.2) ng/mL and mean (SD) CSF level was 41.07 (31.22) ng/mL; the mean (SD) plasma level of the main M5 metabolite was 390.5 (305.9) ng/mL and mean CSF concentration of the main M5 metabolite was 9.57 (10.71) ng/mL (eTable 6 in Supplement 2). Cerebrospinal fluid penetration of edonerpic was about 11%. The ratio of CSF to plasma M5 metabolite was 0.03, suggesting that very little edonerpic is metabolized in the CSF or crosses the blood-brain barrier.

In the safety population, 7 of 158 participants (4.4%) in the placebo group, 23 of 166 participants (13.9%) in the 224-mg group, and 23 of 158 participants (14.6%) in the 448-mg group discontinued treatment because of adverse events. The most frequent adverse events were diarrhea (placebo, 20 of 158 [12.7%]; edonerpic maleate, 224 mg, 34 of 166 [20.5%]; and edonerpic maleate, 448 mg, 49 of 158 [31.0%]) and nausea (placebo, 6 of 158 [3.8%]; edonerpic maleate, 244 mg, 13 of 166 [7.8%]; and edonerpic maleate, 448 mg, 9 of 158 [5.7%]) and tended to occur within the first 24 weeks. Infections, injuries, falls, agitation, and anxiety were more common with placebo (Table 3). As the exposure in the edonerpic maleate–treated groups was 89% of that in the placebo group (mean, 341.6 treatment-days per participant for the placebo-treated group, 303.4 treatment days for the 224-mg group, and 304.2 treatment-days for the 448-mg group), rates of adverse events would be expected at 89% of placebo if there were no treatment differences. Other than mild diarrhea, nausea, weight loss, and dizziness at the higher dose, there were no adverse events reported at a greater rate than placebo.

A total of 94 serious adverse events were observed in 71 participants (Table 3). Four serious adverse events judged possibly related to treatment were in the placebo group, 3 in the 224-mg group, and 3 in the 448-mg group (1 of the latter was considered probably related). Two deaths occurred in the 224-mg group due to sepsis and cerebral hemorrhage and 2 in the 448-mg group due to cardiac arrest and suicide; 3 were judged unrelated and 1 unlikely related to study medications.

There were no significant differences favoring edonerpic maleate for the primary or secondary outcomes. Edonerpic maleate appeared to be tolerable and safe, with expected gastrointestinal symptoms early in treatment. Other than mild diarrhea, nausea, weight loss, and dizziness at the higher dose, there were no adverse events reported at a greater rate than placebo, despite more treatment discontinuations.

The trial was well conducted and valid, with no deficiencies in conduct that we could identify. Withdrawals were only 11% in the placebo group, which was less than the 26% that was expected. The clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer disease was strongly supported by CSF Aβ42 and p-tau biomarkers. A total of 97.8% of participants in the CSF substudy had a positive Alzheimer disease CSF index,²⁰ and 94% had Aβ42 levels below the standard cutoff for the assay (592 pg/mL).

The selection of patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer disease was based on post hoc analyses from a previous phase 2a trial⁷ that suggested that benefits for edonerpic were seen in individuals with an MMSE score less than 20. Furthermore, its preclinical actions, including effects through sigma-1 receptors, interactions with CRMP2 on AMPA receptor delivery, behavioral effects including spatial memory benefits, and increased neurite length in rat hippocampal slices, supported its testing for symptomatic effects in Alzheimer disease. The trial was undertaken without the use of pharmacodynamic or companion biomarker measures of edonerpic’s potential effects on its targets, which is an intrinsic limitation to its development strategy. Also, it is possible that a behavioral or cognitive intervention given along with edonerpic could have effected clinical change as observed in preclinical models.⁴

The higher 448-mg daily dose of edonerpic maleate was selected based on the limited outcomes of the 224-mg dose used in previous studies. Plasma drug levels were as expected and the 11% penetration of edonerpic into CSF was reasonable considering that approximately 80% of edonerpic is bound to plasma proteins. A higher dose than 448 mg in any future trial, however, is likely not feasible based on gastrointestinal adverse effects.

The trial design, duration, outcomes, and sample size were similar to other trials in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer disease.²¹ The ADAS-cog and ADCS-CGIC coprimary outcomes were appropriate and sufficiently sensitive to have detected moderately small drug effects as planned for in this trial. Secondary and exploratory outcomes did not suggest any potential for efficacy, and, in several instances, exploratory responder analyses favored placebo (eAppendix 1 and eTables 2 and 3 in Supplement 2). We also performed a range of post hoc subgroup analyses, including median splits on age, cognition, MMSE score, APOE4 ε4 carriers or not, and taking or not taking memantine, but these analyses did not show significant interactions or suggest efficacy.

Biomarker outcomes in trials require consideration within the context of the clinical outcomes. Lumbar punctures were voluntary, and there was no planned sample size for either the CSF or MRI analyses. The CSF analysis set of only 59 pairs was small (13% of the planned trials sample size). Although there may be a suggestion that the 448-mg/d edonerpic maleate dose was associated with decreased p-tau and total tau, baseline values were not balanced and the effect sizes were implausibly large. Any inference that edonerpic showed neuroprotection in this study would be speculative and would lack supporting clinical evidence. The possibility exists, however, that edonerpic eventually may be shown to have neuroprotective effects in other conditions, other tauopathy, earlier-stage Alzheimer disease, and potentially in cerebrovascular injury models.⁴

The higher rate of follow-up MRI scans in the placebo group is likely because of greater withdrawals in the treatment groups due to adverse events. The increase in lateral ventricular volumes with edonerpic was unexpected. Although increased ventricular volumes generally have been taken to suggest brain volume loss, its meaning in this trial is uncertain, as it was observed only in the high-dose group. Where such findings have been described with amyloid-lowering treatment, the effect has been explained as related to amyloid removal, fluid shifts,²² or neuroinflammatory effects with fluid shifts; when described in the context of other drugs, the effect has been explained as atrophy and neurodegeneration as well as fluid shifts.²³ The Quarc volume analyses of coregistered images used here have better measurement properties than does subtraction of estimated volumes through segmentation of each scan.¹⁶ We also performed the latter volume analyses to facilitate comparisons with other studies (eTable 7 in Supplement 2) and found only reduced hippocampal volume loss with the lower edonerpic maleate dose compared with placebo, which is also of unclear significance in the absence of clinical effect.

Beyond the preclinical data, the clinical outcomes of 3 phase 2 trials and the use of maximal doses do not provide evidence of clinical proof of concept for edonerpic maleate for patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer disease.

Accepted for Publication: April 12, 2019.

Published Online: July 8, 2019. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2019.1868

Open Access: This article is published under the JN-OA license and is free to read on the day of publication.

Corresponding Author: Lon S. Schneider, MD, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, 1540 Alcazar St, CHP 216, Los Angeles, CA 90033 (lschneid@usc.edu).

Author Contributions: Dr Feldman and Mr Okuda had full access to all of the data in the study and take responsibility for the integrity of the data. Drs Hendrix and Thomas take responsibility for the accuracy of the data analysis.

Concept and design: Schneider, Thomas, Hendrix.

Acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data: All authors.

Drafting of the manuscript: Schneider, Thomas, Rissman, Okuda.

Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: Schneider, Thomas, Hendrix, Rissman, Brewer, Salmon, Oltersdorf, Feldman.

Statistical analysis: Thomas, Hendrix.

Administrative, technical, or material support: Schneider, Rissman, Salmon, Oltersdorf, Feldman.

Supervision: Schneider, Oltersdorf, Okuda, Feldman.

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: Dr Schneider reported receiving grants from the University of California San Diego (UCSD) and personal fees from Toyama Chemical Co Ltd during the conduct of the study; personal fees from Baxter, Merck, Neurim Ltd, Neuronix Ltd, AC Immune, Avraham Ltd, Boehringer Ingelheim, Cognition, Takeda, and vTv outside the submitted work; grants and personal fees from Eli Lilly, Forum/En Vivo, Lundbeck, Roche/Genentech, Biogen, and Tau Rx outside the submitted work; and grants from Novartis outside the submitted work. Dr Thomas reported receiving grants from Toyama Chemical Co Ltd during the conduct of the study. Dr Hendrix reported receiving consulting fees from Toyama Chemical Co Ltd/FUJIFILM during the conduct of the study; consulting fees from Pentara Corporation outside the submitted work; and being owner of Pentara Corporation, a company that consults with several pharmaceutical, academic, and nonprofit groups in the Alzheimer’s space. Dr Brewer reported receiving grants from the National Institutes of Health and Toyama Chemical Co, Ltd during the conduct of the study. Dr Salmon reported receiving personal fees from Takeda Inc and Aptinyx Inc outside the submitted work. Dr Oltersdorf reported receiving grants from Toyama Chemical Co Ltd during the conduct of the study and personal fees from Neuropore outside the submitted work. Mr Okuda is an employee of FUJIFILM Toyama Chemical Co Ltd and reported holding an issued patent to WO2018221730. Dr Feldman reported receiving grants plus grants and travel expenses from Toyama Chemical Co Ltd during the conduct of the study; grants from Biohaven Pharmaceuticals, Probiodrug, National Institutes of Health: Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study (ADCS) U19AG10483-26, Brain Canada, Canadian Institutes of Health Research 137794, National Institutes of Health: Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer’s Network 2UF1AG032438-07, and LuMind Research outside the submitted work; and UCSD service agreements for consulting and travel expenses from Eisai Pharmaceuticals, Merck Pharmaceuticals, Genentech Pharmaceuticals, Tau Rx, Axon Neurosciences, Alion, Samus Therapeutics, Arkuda Therapeutics, Samumed, Banner Health, and Tau Consortium outside of the submitted work. No other disclosures were reported.

Funding/Support: The study was funded by FUJIFILM Toyama Chemical Co Ltd and undertaken through a cooperative agreement with the UCSD ADCS (NIH U01 AG10483).

Role of the Funder/Sponsor: Members of the UCSD ADCS designed the study with input from Toyama Chemical Co Ltd. The ADCS and Toyama Chemical Co Ltd were responsible for study conduct. The ADCS and Pentara Corporation contributed to the statistical analysis. Toyama Chemical Co Ltd reviewed the final manuscript; the UCSD ADCS and first author were responsible for the interpretation of the data, preparation, and review; final approval of the manuscript; and decision to submit the manuscript for publication.

Group Information: The Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study TCAD Study Group members are as follows. Protocol committee: Lon S. Schneider, MD, Martin Farlow, MD, Steven Ferris, PhD, James Galvin, MD, Anton Porsteinsson, MD, Marwan Sabbagh, MD, Mary Sano, PhD, and Pierre N. Tariot, MD. Site Principal Investigators: Thomas Ala, MD, Southern Illinois University, Shauna Yuan, MD, UCSD, Judith Heidebrink, MD, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Karen Bell, MD, Columbia University, Amy Aloysi, MD, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Neelum Aggarwal, MD, Rush University Medical Center, Ranjan Duara, MD, Wien Center for Clinical Research, Steven Arnold, MD, University of Pennsylvania, Jason Karlawish, MD, University of Pennsylvania, Richard Ronan Murphy, MD, University of Kentucky, Oscar Lopez, MD, University of Pittsburgh, Anton Porsteinsson, MD, University of Rochester Medical Center, Jeffrey Burns, MD, University of Kansas, Angela Jefferson, PhD, Vanderbilt Memory & Alzheimer’s Center, Martin Farlow, MD, Indiana University, Christopher van Dyck, MD, Yale University School of Medicine, G. Alexander Hishaw, MD, Arizona Health Sciences Center, Nunzio Pomara, MD, Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Raymond Scott Turner, MD, PhD, Georgetown University, Alan Siegal, MD, Geriatric and Adult Psychiatry, Marwan Sabbagh, MD, Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Edward Zamrini, MD, Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Robert Stern, PhD, Boston University, Alan Lerner, MD, Case Western Reserve University, Horacio Capote, MD, Dent Neurologic Institute, Sanjay Asthana, MD, University of Wisconsin, Steven Potkin, MD, University of California, Irvine–Neuropsychiatric Center, William Burke, MD, Banner Alzheimer's Institute, Susan Schultz, MD, University of Iowa, Delwyn Miller, MD, University of Iowa, Kaycee Sink, MD, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Charles Bernick, MD, Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, Daniel Murman, MD, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Nadeem Mirza, MD, Bronson Lakeview Hospital, Ralph Richter, MD, Tulsa Clinical Research, Jacobo Mintzer, MD, Roper St. Francis Hospital, Thomas Vidic, MD, Indiana Medical Research, LLC, Harvey Schwartz, MD, Infinity Clinical Research, LLC, Clinton Wright, MD, University of Miami, Bernard Baumel, MD, University of Miami, Jeffrey Keller, PhD, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Andrea Bozoki, MD, Michigan State University, Amy Sanders, MD, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Cary Kohlenberg, MD, Independent Psychiatric Consultant, Joseph Masdeu, MD, PhD, Houston Methodist Neurological Institute, Dennis Lacey, MD, NeuroTrials Research, Inc., Jeffrey Apter, MD, Princeton Medical Institute, Stephen Waldman, MD, PhD, Neurology Center of North Orange County, Kiran Bath, MD, Neurology Center of North Orange County, Sid O’Bryant, PhD, University of North Texas Health Science Center, David Weisman, MD, Abington Neurological Associates, John Nardandrea, MD, Renstar Medical Research, Clifford Singer, MD, Acadia Hospital and Eastern Maine Medical Center, and Bart Sloan, MD, Research Center for Clinical Studies, Inc.

Meeting Presentation: This study was presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease; July 19, 2017; London, England.

Data Sharing Statement: See Supplement 3.

Additional Contributions: We wish to acknowledge important contributions from the following. the ADCS Data Safety Monitoring Board: Andrew Feigin, MD, Serge Gauthier, MD, Richard J. Kovacs, MD, Richard Kryscio, PhD, and Daniel Weintraub, MD. Pentara Corporation: Noel Ellison, MS. Principal Consultant to FUJIFILM Toyama Chemical Co Ltd: Maggie Neptune, BS. Toyama Chemical Co Ltd: Yoshimitsu Ando, MSc, RPh, Hiroshi Kobayashi, MPharm, Moriyoshi Maeda, MPharm, and Hirohisa Tsuchida, MS. UCSD ADCS members: Sara Abdel-Latif, BS, Natalie Abu Hamdan, BS, Jan Agee, BS, Lindsay Cotton, MPH, Leonardino Digma, BA, Anita Elgin, BS, Carol Evans, BA, Nichol Ferng, BS, Kelly Harless, BA (until 2015), Sean Hatton, PhD, Robin Jennings, MS, Shelia Jin, MD, Sean Kipperman, BS, Barbra LaPlante, MA, Liz Lazarus, BS, RN, Jennifer Mason, MPH, Genny Matthews, BA, Louise Monte, MS, Nicholas Monte, BS, Rosemary Morrison, MPH, David Mote, BA, Gabriela Muranevici, MD (until 2016), Lee Pang, PhD, Roxana Phillips, BS, Debbie Powell, BS, Michael Rafii, MD, PhD (until 2016), Carolyn Revta, MPH, Jennifer Salazar, MBS (until 2015), Kim Schafer, MS, Curtis Taylor, PhD, and Jason Young, PhD.