Boehringer Ingelheim refocuses PDE9 inhibition brain research on schizophrenia following results from Phase II Alzheimer’s trials.
Boehringer Ingelheim announced that their Phase II Alzheimer’s disease (AD) trials with investigational compound BI 409306 had not met their efficacy endpoints and plans for further trials with BI 409306 in AD will therefore not be pursued. Instead, the company will refocus efforts on the ongoing schizophrenia trials with this compound.
These AD trials were part of an extensive clinical trial program exploring the efficacy of compounds which target malfunctioning of specific (glutamatergic) brain circuits as potential new treatments for specific symptoms and traits of mental illness.
As such, the investigational compound BI 409306 was explored in patients with cognitive impairment and those with memory dysfunction in schizophrenia and in Alzheimer’s disease. Future investigations will focus on two studies in schizophrenia, aimed at prevention of relapse and at prevention of occurrence of a first psychotic episode.
Boehringer Ingelheim’s continued engagement in the dementia field is confirmed by the planned Phase II trials investigating another compound, BI 425809, a GlyT1 inhibitor, in a range of central nervous system (CNS) indications which also include Alzheimer’s disease.
“We recognize the immense anticipation around any progress in brain research that brings us closer to finding solutions for the many millions of people living with dementia,” said Jan Poth, Ph.D., therapeutic area head CNS Diseases at Boehringer Ingelheim. “However, this is what research is about: disappointments are a daily experience in science, but even these clinical trial results will add to the understanding of brain function and contribute to future progress in this area.”
Following a comprehensive review of the complete trial data Boehringer Ingelheim intends to present the full results at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) 2018 in July this year.
(Source: Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.)
Filed Under: Drug Discovery
