Pharmaceutical company Cognition Therapeutics has revealed promising results for zervimesine, an experimental drug designed to treat dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), at the International Lewy Body Dementia Conference in Amsterdam.
The phase 2 SHIMMER study, involving 130 adults, demonstrated notable improvements across multiple symptom domains for patients receiving zervimesine. Participants showed an 86% better score on neuropsychiatric symptoms compared to the placebo group, with significant reductions in hallucinations, delusions, anxiety, and agitation.
Dr. James E. Galvin, study director, highlighted the potential significance of these findings, noting that zervimesine could enable DLB patients to remain at home with caregiver support. Patients on the drug preserved 52% more of their self-care abilities and experienced 91% fewer cognitive fluctuations compared to the placebo group.
DLB affects approximately 1.4 million people in the United States and is considered the most expensive form of dementia. The study's results suggest zervimesine could provide meaningful relief for patients and their caregivers by addressing the complex symptoms of this progressive neurological disorder.
Cognition Therapeutics' Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Anthony O. Caggiano, emphasized the broad impact of the drug, pointing to improvements across behavioral, cognitive, functional, and motor symptoms. These results reinforce zervimesine's potential as a comprehensive treatment approach for DLB.
