Comparative Study to Test Safety and Efficacy of Neurotrophic and Cholinergic Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease (Combi)

A Randomized, Double-Blind, Clinical Trial to Compare the Safety and Efficacy of Cerebrolysin and Aricept (Donepezil) and a Combination Therapy in Patients With Probable Alzheimer's Disease (AD)

The study was performed to compare the safety and efficacy of Cerebrolysin (10 mililiters [ml]), Aricept (10 miligrams [mg]), and a combination of both treatments on cognitive performance and global function in patients with probable Alzheimer's Disease (AD). It should also be assessed if the treatments have a positive effect on activities of daily living and neuropsychiatric symptoms.

Oral treatment with Aricept or Placebo was given once daily throughout the study. Intravenous treatment with Cerebrolysin or Placebo was given once daily for 5 days per week during week 1 to 4 and during week 13 to 16 of the study. During the study patients had six visits at the hospital for evaluation.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Alzheimer Disease
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Cerebrolysin + donepezil; Drug: Cerebrolysin + placebo; Drug: Donepezil + placebo

Detailed Description

Endogenous neurotrophic factors, also called neurotrophins, are signaling molecules in various cellular pathways and allow proper neuronal function, survival and regeneration. Sufficient supply is therefore regarded as a pre-requisite for neuronal maintenance but sudden or chronic pathological changes result in an imbalance of this regulatory system.

Cerebrolysin is a peptide preparation acting in a similar way like endogenous neurotrophic factors. Due to its pleiotropic effects - neuroprotection, neuronal survival, neuroplasticity and neurogenesis -, Cerebrolysin is regarded as potential therapeutic tool in complex diseases like stroke or dementia. In contrast to naturally occurring neurotrophic factors, neuropeptides of Cerebrolysin enter the brain parenchyma by crossing the blood-brain barrier after peripheral (intravenous [IV]) administration.

Another treatment approach for Alzheimer's disease targets the cholinergic system to increase cortical acetylcholine. One of these drugs is the anticholinesterase donepezil (Aricept). However, anticholinesterases seem to provide only symptomatic benefit for a limited period and not to influence the progression of the disease. In view of the different mechanisms of action and clinical profile of Cerebrolysin and Aricept, a combination therapy of both may provide synergistic treatment effects. The combination of a treatment targeting the neurotrophic axis (Cerebrolysin) with a treatment to improve cholinergic neurotransmission (Aricept) can arguably be expected to provide additional benefits to AD patients.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 217
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Spain
  • Granada, Spain, 18340
    • Centro Geriátrico Fuente Salinas
  • La Coruna, Spain, 15166
    • EuroEspes Biomedical Research Centre
  • Málaga, Spain, 29005
    • Clínica de Memoria

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 51 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion criteria

• Diagnosis of probable AD (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th revision [DSM-IV], National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke and the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association [NINCDS-ADRDA])
• Mini-Mental-State-Examination (MMSE) of 12-25, inclusive
• Modified Hachinski score ≤4
• Computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan within 12 months prior to screening without evidence of infection, infarction, or other focal lesions and without clinical symptoms suggestive of intervening neurological disease. Patients who have had a single, clinically silent lacunar infarct are eligible provided the lacunar infarct is not felt to be responsible for the patient's symptoms, is <1 centimeter (cm) maximal diameter in any dimension, is not present in hippocampus of either hemisphere, head of the left caudate, or the dorsomedial region of the left thalamus. Subjects with scans showing atrophy, ventricular enlargement or mild to moderate white matter changes (involving up to approximately 25% of hemispheric white matter) are eligible if the study is otherwise normal.
• Hamilton Depression Scale score of ≤15
• Adequate visual and auditory acuity to allow neuropsychological testing
• Ability to attempt all sections of the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale Cognitive Subpart (extended version)(ADAS-cog+)
• Good general health without additional diseases expected to interfere with the study
• Normal B12, folic acid, venereal disease research laboratory (VDRL), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) or without any clinically significant laboratory abnormalities that would be expected to interfere with the study
• Electrocardiogram (ECG) and chest x-ray (if clinically necessary per Investigator) without clinically significant laboratory abnormalities that would be expected to interfere with the study
• Patient is not institutionalized
• Patient is not pregnant, lactating, or of childbearing potential
• Sufficient language skills to complete all testing without assistance of a language interpreter
• Responsible caregiver being present during administration of study drug, monitor the patient's compliance with study procedures and adverse events, and accompany the patient to all clinic visits
• Written informed consent obtained from the patient and caregiver prior to entry into the study

Exclusion criteria

• Any clinically significant laboratory abnormalities on the battery of screening tests
• Patients who in the past have not tolerated treatment with 10 mg Aricept or treatment with a corresponding dose of another cholinesterase inhibitor
• Severe psychotic features, depression, agitation or behavioral problems within the last three months that could lead to difficulty complying with the protocol
• Any significant systemic illness or unstable medical condition that could lead to difficulty complying with the protocol
• Patients who in the Investigator's opinion would not comply with study procedures
• Any significant neurological disease other than Alzheimer's Disease, within the past five years, or with residual effects
• Delusional symptoms are often characteristic of Alzheimer's Disease, but patients with symptoms so pronounced that they warrant an alternative diagnosis are excluded
• History of alcohol or substance abuse or dependence within the past two years (DSM-IV)
• History of schizophrenia (DSM-IV)
• Patients with a history of systemic cancer within the past two years are excluded
• History of myocardial infarction in the past year or unstable or severe cardiovascular disease, including uncontrolled hypertension
• Uncontrolled insulin-requiring diabetes or non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (Haemoglobin A1c [HBA1c] > 10.0)

• Use of:

  • systemic corticosteroids for more than one week within three months prior to Baseline (BL)
  • Anti-Parkinsonian agents within two months prior to baseline (BL)
  • Approved or investigational Cholinesterase Inhibitors within 30 days or five half-lives, whichever is longer, prior to BL
  • Memantine or other N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) antagonists within 30 days or five half-lives, whichever is longer, prior to BL
  • Treatment with high potency neuroleptics or narcotic analgesics within four weeks prior to BL
  • Cimetidine within four weeks prior to BL
  • Sedatives more frequently than two times per week for sleep within four weeks prior to BL

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Quadruple

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Cerebrolysin + donepezil	Drug: Cerebrolysin + donepezil; Cerebrolysin (10 ml) was given as IV infusion on five days per week for four consecutive weeks (week 1-4) with repetition of this treatment course (week 13-16) after a two-months treatment free interval, accounting for a total of 40 infusions. Donepezil was given PO once daily during the whole study duration (28 weeks). After four weeks the daily dosage was increased from 5 mg to 10 mg.; Other Names: Brand name for donepezil: Aricept; Brand name for Cerebrolysin: Cerebrolysin
Experimental: Cerebrolysin + placebo	Drug: Cerebrolysin + placebo; Cerebrolysin (10 ml) was given as IV infusion on five days per week for four consecutive weeks (week 1-4) with repetition of this treatment course (week 13-16) after a two-months treatment free interval, accounting for a total of 40 infusions. Placebo for donepezil was given PO once daily during the whole study duration (28 weeks).; Other Names: Brand name for Cerebrolysin: Cerebrolysin
Active Comparator: Donepezil + placebo	Drug: Donepezil + placebo; Placebo for Cerebrolysin was given as IV infusion on five days per week for four consecutive weeks (week 1-4) with repetition of this treatment course (week 13-16) after a two-months treatment free interval, accounting for a total of 40 infusions. Donepezil was given PO once daily during the whole study duration (28 weeks). After four weeks the daily dosage was increased from 5 mg to 10 mg.; Other Names: Brand name for donepezil: Aricept

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change From Baseline in Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale Cognitive Subpart (Extended Version) (ADAS-COG+) at Week 28	The ADAS-cog+ is a validated, widely used, 14 item psychometric instrument for testing cognitive functions with increased sensitivity in detecting changes in milder patients compared to the original ADAS-cog. It has a maximum score of 85 with a higher score indicating impairment and was assessed by a qualified neuropsychologist.	baseline and week 28
Clinical Interview-based Impression of Change (CIBIC+) Score		week 28

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Change From Baseline for ADAS-COG+	week 4, 12, 16
ADAS-COG+ Responders	week 4, 12, 16, 28
Change From Baseline for Original ADAS-COG	week 4, 12, 16, 28
CIBIC+ Score	week 4, 12, 16
CIBIC+ Responders	week 4, 12, 16, 28
Clinical Interview-based Impression of Severity (CIBIS+) Score	week 28
Change From Baseline for Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study Activities of Daily Living (ADCS-ADL)	week 16, 28
Change From Baseline in Total Score for Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI)	week 16, 28
Combined Responders, i.e. Response in ADAS-COG+ and CIBIC+	week 4, 12, 16, 28
Adverse Experiences, Vital Signs, Physical and Neurological Examinations, Laboratory Tests (Hematology, Clinical Chemistry , Urinalysis, Electrocardiogram [ECG])	Baseline, week 4, 12, 16, 28

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Ever Neuro Pharma GmbH
• Collaborators: acromion GmbH
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Ánton X Àlvarez, MD, PhD, EuroEspes Biomedical Research Center; Study Director: Herbert Moessler, PhD, EBEWE Pharma

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Alvarez XA, Cacabelos R, Sampedro C, Couceiro V, Aleixandre M, Vargas M, Linares C, Granizo E, Garcia-Fantini M, Baurecht W, Doppler E, Moessler H. Combination treatment in Alzheimer's disease: results of a randomized, controlled trial with cerebrolysin and donepezil. Curr Alzheimer Res. 2011 Aug;8(5):583-91. doi: 10.2174/156720511796391863.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: October 1, 2004
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 1, 2008
• Study Completion (Actual): April 1, 2008

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 7, 2009
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 7, 2009
• First Posted (Estimate): June 2, 2009

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): June 10, 2009
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 4, 2009
• Last Verified: June 1, 2009

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Randomized Controlled Trial; Cerebrolysin; Donepezil; Clinical Trial, Phase II; Multicenter Study
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Neurocognitive Disorders; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Dementia; Tauopathies; Alzheimer Disease; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Neurotransmitter Agents; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Cholinergic Agents; Enzyme Inhibitors; Neuroprotective Agents; Protective Agents; Nootropic Agents; Cholinesterase Inhibitors; Donepezil; Cerebrolysin
• Other Study ID Numbers: EBE-031010