A Placebo-controlled Trial to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Galantamine in the Treatment of Vascular Dementia

Johnson & Johnson (J&J)

Status and phase

Completed

Phase 3

Conditions

Dementia, Vascular

Treatments

Drug: galantamine

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Industry

Identifiers

NCT00035191

CR002011

Details and patient eligibility

About

This is a trial to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of galantamine in patients with dementia secondary to blood vessel disease in the brain.

Full description

In a previous 6-month study in patients with both vascular dementia and Alzheimer's dementia, galantamine demonstrated positive results on thinking, functioning, behavior, speech and overall well being of patients, and prevented the behavior symptoms of dementia from appearing. This combined study consists of two almost identical 26-week studies that examine the same criteria as the previous study, but in a larger patient population (dementia has been identified as having been caused by blood vessel disease without Alzheimer's disease). The study starts with a 4-week period in which current medications for dementia are withdrawn followed by a 26-week double-blind treatment period when patients will receive either placebo or galantamine 8 milligrams or 12 milligrams twice a day. Effectiveness will be measured by changes in scores on the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale cognitive subscale, Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study Scale, the Clinician's Interview-Based Impression of Change Plus, and the neuropsychiatric inventory, as well as (in English-speaking countries only) a 10-minute interview of the patient (EXIT-25 scale). Safety will be evaluated throughout the study based on the incidence and severity of unexpected events, laboratory and physical tests, and vital signs. The hypothesis of the study is that galantamine will improve thinking, function, behavior, speech, and overall well being, better than placebo. A voluntary pharmacogenomic study will be incorporated into the study plan to evaluate whether specific genes are related to the dementia or drug response. 8 milligrams (mg) 2 times a day for 8 weeks, then increasing to12 mg, if tolerated. After 12 weeks dose can be reduced to 8 mg or matching placebo

Enrollment

254 patients

Sex

All

Ages

40+ years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Diagnosed with vascular dementia per NINDS-AIREN criteria
Radiologic evidence of VaD on MRI
Clinical evidence of VaD (ie focal signs)
Onset of dementia between ages 40 and 90 years
Ability to read, write, communicate, and understand cognitive testing instructions
No uncontrolled medical conditions

Exclusion criteria

Presence of other diseases or disorders that could cause loss of mental functioning (such as trauma, cancer, infections, mental retardation)
Current significant cardiovascular disease that could limit the patient's ability to complete the study
Major psychiatric diseases
Peptic ulcer or significant urine outflow obstructions
Seizures
Other serious diseases
History of drug or alcohol abuse within the past year