Study: Memantine/Donepezil Combo Effective in Treating Alzheimer's

The combination therapy of memantine and donepezil (Aricept) improved the ability of patients with Alzheimer's disease to think and remember, according to a study presented April 4 at the American Academy of Neurology in Honolulu.

Memantine is an investigational drug that has not yet been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in the United States, while donepezil is a widely used acetylcholinesterase inhibitor.

The 402 patients in the study with moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's disease received either memantine and donepezil or donepezil and a placebo.

Patients treated with memantine and donepezil experienced a sustained improvement in cognitive function -- the ability to think, reason, concentrate, or remember -- while cognitive function for patients on donepezil and placebo actually declined.

Patients given memantine and donepezil also showed significantly less decline in activities of daily living.

A greater percentage of patients in the memantine/donepezil group completed the study compared to the placebo/donepezil group. However, the incidence of adverse events was similar in patients treated with both combinations.

"The results of this memantine combination therapy study point the way towards a new standard of care in the treatment of moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's disease," said lead researcher Dr. Martin Farlow, professor of neurology at the Indiana University School of Medicine. "This is the first successful combination drug trial for Alzheimer's, and it is truly an exciting advance for patients and their loved ones."

Forest Laboratories is seeking U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval to market memantine in the United States.

Other sources: Forest Laboratories, Inc.