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A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Phase II Study Assessing Safety, Tolerability, and Efficacy of Bryostatin in the Treatment of Moderately Severe to Severe Alzheimer's Disease

Martin R Farlow, Richard E Thompson, Lee-Jen Wei, Alan J Tuchman, Elaine Grenier, David Crockford, Susanne Wilke, Jeffrey Benison, Daniel L Alkon

J Alzheimers Dis. 2019;67(2):555-570.

PMID: 30530975

Abstract:

Background:
Bryostatin-activated PKC epsilon pre-clinically induces synaptogenesis, anti-apoptosis, anti-amyloid-β oligomers, and anti-hyperphosphorylated tau.
Objectives:
To investigate bryostatin safety, tolerability, and efficacy to improve cognition in advanced Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients.
Methods:
A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled Phase II, 12-week trial of i.v. bryostatin for 150 advanced AD patients (55-85) with MMSE-2 of 4-15, randomized 1:1:1 into 20 μg and 40 μg bryostatin, and placebo arms. The Full Analysis Set (FAS) and the Completer Analysis Set (CAS) were pre-specified alternative assessments (1-sided, p < 0.1 for primary efficacy, and 2-sided, p < 0.05 for pre-specified and post hoc exploratory analyses).
Results:
The safety profile was similar for 20 μg treatment and placebo patients. The 40 μg patients showed safety and drop-out issues, but no efficacy. Primary improvement of Severe Impairment Battery (SIB) scores at 13 weeks was not significant (p = 0.134) in the FAS, although in the CAS, the SIB comparison favored 20 μg bryostatin compared to placebo patients (p < 0.07). Secondary analyses at weeks 5 and 15 (i.e., 30 days post-final dosing) also favored 20 μg bryostatin compared to placebo patients. A pre-specified ANCOVA for baseline memantine blocking bryostatin and positive post-hoc trend analyses were statistically significant (2-sided, p < 0.05).
Conclusion:
Although the primary endpoint was not significant in the FAS, primary and secondary analyses in the CAS, and pre-specified and post-hoc exploratory analyses did favor bryostatin 20 μg compared to the placebo cohort. These promising Phase II results support further trials of 20 μg bryostatin- without memantine- to treat AD.

Chemicals Related in the Paper:

Catalog Number Product Name Structure CAS Number Price
AP83314016-B Bryostatin 1 - CAS 83314-01-6 Bryostatin 1 - CAS 83314-01-6 83314-01-6 Price
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