Latrepirdine (Dimebon) may help restore some cognitive function in patients with Huntington’s disease.
The Los Angeles Times (2/8, Maugh) “Booster Shots” blog reported, “An experimental drug call latrepirdine has produced a small improvement in the mental abilities of some patients with Huntington’s disease.” Mediavation Inc. and Pfizer Inc. purchased the rights to the drug from Russian researchers, “conducted a Phase 2 clinical trial of the drug in Alzheimer’s patients and found some benefit,” and are now conducting a Phase 3 trial, with results “expected later this year.”
MedPage Today (2/8, Gever) noted that 91 patients “receiving three months of treatment with latrepirdine (Dimebon), formerly known as dimebolin, showed a mean increase of 0.86 points (SD 0.31) on the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE), compared to an average decline of 0.12 points (SD 0.31, P=0.03) in a placebo group.”
Bloomberg News (2/9, Pettypiece) adds that the study in the Archives of Neurology released Monday is “encouraging because there are no treatments for the psychological effects of Huntington’s.” Reuters (2/9, Allen) also covered the story.