ObjectivesTo compare the efficacy, safety and tolerability of a novel rivastigmine transdermal patch with conventional rivastigmine capsules and placebo in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD).MethodsIn this 24‐week, multicenter, double‐blind, double‐dummy, placebo‐ and active‐controlled trial, patients with probable AD were randomized to one of four treatment groups: 12 mg/day rivastigmine capsules; 10 cm2 (9.5 mg/24 h) rivastigmine patch; 20 cm2 (17.4 mg/24 h) rivastigmine patch; or placebo. Primary efficacy measures were the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale—Cognitive subscale (ADAS‐Cog) and Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study––Clinical Global Impression of Change (ADCS‐CGIC).ResultsOne thousand one hundred and ninety five AD patients from 21 countries participated in the study. Treatment differences (vs placebo) on the ADAS‐Cog at Week 24 in 10 cm2 patch, 20 cm2 patch and capsule groups were 1.6 (p = 0.005), 2.6 (p < 0.001) and 1.6 (p = 0.003). Treatment differences on the ADCS‐CGIC were 0.3 (p = 0.01), 0.2 (p = 0.054) and 0.3 (p = 0.009). Comparison between the 10 cm2 patch and the capsule revealed non‐inferiority. Rates of nausea in the 10 cm2 patch and capsule groups were 7.2% and 23.1%, respectively; rates of vomiting were 6.2% and 17.0%, respectively. Moderate or severe skin irritation occurred in ≤10% patients across the four patch sizes (5, 10, 15 and 20 cm2).ConclusionsThe target dose of 10 cm2 rivastigmine patch provides efficacy similar to the highest doses of capsules with a superior tolerability profile. The transdermal patch with rivastigmine may offer convenience important to many caregivers and patients. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The rivastigmine patch is the first transdermal treatment for Alzheimer disease (AD). By providing continuous delivery of drug into the bloodstream over 24 hours, transdermal delivery may offer benefits superior to those of oral administration. This study compared the efficacy, safety and tolerability of rivastigmine patches with capsules and placebo. IDEAL (Investigation of transDermal Exelon in ALzheimer's disease) was a 24-week, double-blind, double-dummy, placebo- and active-controlled study. Patients with AD were randomized to placebo or one of three active treatment target dose groups: 10-cm(2) rivastigmine patch (delivering 9.5 mg/24 hours); 20-cm(2) rivastigmine patch (17.4 mg/24 hours); or 6-mg BID rivastigmine capsules. Primary efficacy measures were the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive subscale and Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study-Clinical Global Impression of Change. Secondary outcome measures assessed a range of domains, including behavior, cognitive performance, attention, executive functions, and activities of daily living. A total of 1,195 AD patients participated. All rivastigmine treatment groups showed significant improvement relative to placebo. The 10-cm(2) patch showed similar efficacy to capsules, with approximately two-thirds fewer reports of nausea (7.2% vs 23.1%) and vomiting (6.2% vs 17.0%), incidences statistically not significantly different from placebo (5.0% and 3.3% for nausea and vomiting, respectively). The 20-cm(2) patch showed earlier improvement and numerically superior cognitive scores vs the 10-cm(2) patch with similar tolerability to capsules. Local skin tolerability was good. The transdermal patch with rivastigmine may offer additional therapeutic benefits and may prove to be the best delivery system for this drug to treat AD.

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Cholinesterase inhibitor treatment may offer continued therapeutic benefit for up to 2 years in patients with moderate AD. Although both drugs performed similarly on cognition and behaviour, rivastigmine may provide greater benefit in activities of daily living and global functioning.

AFQ056 is a novel, selective metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 antagonist. This was a 13-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Patients with Parkinson's disease and moderate-to-severe levodopa (l-dopa)-induced dyskinesia who were receiving stable l-dopa/anti-parkinsonian treatment and were not currently receiving amantadine were randomized to receive either AFQ056 (at doses of 20, 50, 100, 150, or 200 mg daily) or placebo (1:1:1:1:2:3 ratio) for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was the modified Abnormal Involuntary Movements Scale. Secondary outcomes included the 26-item Parkinson's Disease Dyskinesia Scale, the Patient's/Clinician's Global Impression of Change, and the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale parts III (motor evaluation) and IV (severity of motor complications). Safety was assessed. In total, 98 of 133 (73.7%) AFQ056-treated patients and 47 of 64 (73.4%) patients in the placebo group completed the study. Baseline characteristics were comparable. Patients randomized to AFQ056 200 mg daily administered in 2 doses demonstrated significant improvements at Week 12 on the modified Abnormal Involuntary Movements Scale compared with placebo (difference, -2.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], -5.2, -0.4; P = 0.007). Based on final actual doses, there was a dose-response relationship on the modified Abnormal Involuntary Movements Scale, with 200 mg daily demonstrating the most robust effect (difference, -3.6; 95% CI, -7.0, -0.3; P = 0.012). Improvements in dyskinesia were supported by change on Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale part IV item 32 (50 mg daily: difference, -0.7; 95% CI, -1.1, -0.2; P = 0.003; 200 mg daily: difference, -0.5; 95% CI, -0.8, -0.1; P = 0.005). No significant changes were observed on the 26-item Parkinson's Disease Dyskinesia Scale, the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale part IV item 33 or items 32 and 33, or the Patient's/Clinician's Global Impression of Change. Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale part III scores were not significantly changed, indicating no worsening of motor symptoms. The most common adverse events (with incidence greater with AFQ056 than with placebo) were dizziness, hallucination, fatigue, nasopharyngitis, diarrhea, and insomnia. AFQ056 demonstrated anti-dyskinetic efficacy in this population without worsening underlying motor symptoms. These results will guide dose selection for future clinical trials.

Thrombolysis of acute pulmonary embolism can be accomplished more rapidly and safely with 100 mg of recombinant human tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA) (Activase) than with a conventional dose of urokinase (Abbokinase) given as a 4,400-U/kg bolus dose, followed by 4,400 U/kg per h for 24 h. To determine the effects of a more concentrated urokinase dose administered over a shorter time course, this trial enrolled 90 patients with baseline perfusion lung scans and angiographically documented pulmonary embolism. They were randomized to receive either 100 mg/2 h of rt-PA or a novel dosing regimen of urokinase: 3 million U/2 h with the initial 1 million U given as a bolus injection over 10 min. Both drugs were delivered through a peripheral vein. To assess efficacy after initiation of therapy, repeat pulmonary angiograms at 2 h were performed in 87 patients and then graded in a blinded manner by a panel of six investigators. Of the 42 patients allocated to rt-PA therapy, 79% showed angiographic improvement at 2 h, compared with 67% of the 45 patients randomized to urokinase therapy (95% confidence interval for the difference in these proportions [rt-PA minus urokinase] is -6.6% to 30.4%; p = 0.11). The mean change in perfusion lung scans between baseline and 24 h was similar for both treatments. Three patients (two treated with rt-PA and one with urokinase) had an intracranial hemorrhage, which was fatal in one. The results indicate that a 2-h regimen of rt-PA and a new dosing regimen of urokinase exhibit similar efficacy and safety for treatment of acute pulmonary embolism.

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Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) perfusion brain scans with iodine-123 isopropyl iodoamphetamine (IMP) were obtained in 12 subjects who acknowledged using cocaine on a sporadic to a daily basis. The route of cocaine administration varied from nasal to intravenous. Concurrent abuse of other drugs was also reported. None of the patients were positive for human immunodeficiency virus. Brain scans demonstrated focal defects in 11 subjects, including seven who were asymptomatic, and no abnormality in one. Among the findings were scattered focal cortical deficits, which were seen in several patients and which ranged in severity from small and few to multiple and large, with a special predilection for the frontal and temporal lobes. No perfusion deficits were seen on I-123 SPECT images in five healthy volunteers. Focal alterations in cerebral perfusion are seen commonly in asymptomatic drug users, and these focal deficits are readily depicted by I-123 IMP SPECT.