Cognition announces outcomes from trial of zervimesine for geographic atrophy
The placebo-controlled study was completed following the enrolment of approximately 100 of the planned 246 subjects. It used two measures to assess the change in GA lesions: growth rate and size.
Subjects were evaluated for tolerability and safety, GA lesion size and growth rate changes, visual acuity changes, and other visual and anatomic measures.
According to the company, a slope analysis indicated that the GA trajectory had slowed by 28.6% in patients treated with zervimesine. In addition, at 18 months, the mean lesion size for those treated with zervimesine was 28.2% smaller than that of the placebo group.
Nearly two-thirds of subjects completed one year of dosing, and one-third completed 18 months.
While additional data on demographics, safety, and visual and anatomic outcomes are still under analysis, the company plans to present the complete findings at a medical meeting later in the year.
GA is marked by the formation of lesions consisting of dead retinal cells and undegraded waste proteins, leading to central vision blind spots.
In the trial, subjects were randomised and were given either a placebo or 200mg of oral zervimesine once a day.
The voluntary conclusion of the study enabled Cognition to redirect resources towards its ongoing Alzheimer's and dementia with lewy bodies (DLB) programmes.
Cognition Therapeutics research and development head and chief medical officer Anthony Caggiano said: 'To date, we have observed evidence of robust slowing of disease progression with zervimesine treatment in Phase II studies in Alzheimer's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies.
'These results in dry AMD represent yet another indication in which zervimesine has potential to slow the progression of disease with a once-daily oral pill. Compared to current treatment options, which require regular clinic visits for intravitreal injections, an effective oral treatment that patients can take at home would be truly transformative.'
In April last year, the company completed subject enrolment in its Phase II SHIMMER trial of CT1812 for treating mild-to-moderate DLB.
"Cognition announces outcomes from trial of zervimesine for geographic atrophy" was originally created and published by Clinical Trials Arena, a GlobalData owned brand.
The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
9 hours ago
- New York Post
This tasty seasoning can boost memory, fight anxiety and even help prevent dementia
Herb your enthusiasm — your brain's about to get a boost. For centuries, a trusty kitchen staple has been celebrated by ancient healers for its wide-ranging medicinal properties, including sharpening memory, concentration and overall cognitive function. Now, modern science is backing up that old-school wisdom, with research suggesting the powerful plant could even help fight Alzheimer's disease, the leading cause of dementia worldwide. Advertisement 5 The herb is generally considered safe for culinary and medicinal purposes when used in moderation. rh2010 – A Mediterranean marvel Rosemary, a fragrant evergreen shrub native to the Mediterranean, has been a kitchen staple since the time of ancient Greece and Rome. Fast forward to today, and the versatile herb has won fans around the world. Its bold, aromatic leaves — whether fresh or dried — are widely used as seasoning, steeped in tea or infused into oil. Advertisement But could adding rosemary to your meals do more than just wake up your taste buds? More than just flavor Packed with phytochemicals, rosemary has been shown to help protect the body from harmful free radicals, oxidative stress and inflammation — all key drivers behind chronic illnesses like cancer, heart disease and type 2 diabetes. 5 Rosemary is part of the mint family, which also includes herbs like basil, thyme and lavender. PhotoArt Thomas Klee – It also appears to pack an antimicrobial punch, having long been used in traditional medicine to fight infections and speed wound healing. Advertisement Rosemary is a solid source of vitamins A, C and B6, along with essential minerals like iron, calcium, magnesium and potassium. It's especially rich in manganese, a key nutrient for metabolic health. With all these benefits, scientists are investigating whether rosemary could help with everything from vision and skin health to hair growth, asthma relief and even slowing the spread of cancer cells. But one of the most promising frontiers in rosemary research is the brain. Brain food since ancient times Advertisement Scientists may be just catching on, but humans have relied on rosemary to boost brainpower for thousands of years. 5 Rosemary's potent tioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties may give the brain a major boost. manassanant – Back in ancient Greece, students and scholars commonly wore garlands made from the plant on their heads during exams to boost their memory and focus. Centuries later, Shakespeare crowned it 'the herb of remembrance.' Turns out, they might have been onto something. In one study, older adults who sniffed rosemary scored significantly better on tests of prospective memory — the ability to remember to do something at the right time — compared to those in an unscented room. They were also more alert. 'This is potentially very important because prospective memory, for example, enables you to remember to take your medication at certain times of the day,' said Dr. Mark Moss, head of the department of psychology at Northumbria University, who helped lead the study. 5 The scent of rosemary has been shown to improve memory and focus, as well as lower stress and anxiety levels. annanahabed – Advertisement But it's not just seniors who could benefit. A 2018 trial found university students taking 500 mg of rosemary supplements twice daily for a month showed better memory than a placebo group. They also reported less anxiety and depression, plus better sleep — suggesting rosemary does more than just sharpen your mind. In another study, employees who drank rosemary-infused water daily said they felt less burnt out at their jobs than coworkers who didn't. Advertisement Scientists think rosemary may work its magic by boosting blood flow to the brain — flooding it with oxygen and nutrients that help clear out mental fog. Its calming scent has also been shown to lower cortisol, the body's main stress hormone. Meanwhile, research suggests its polyphenols may help fight depression by taming inflammation and supporting gut health. Rosemary also contains compounds like 1,8-cineole, which helps prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine — a key brain chemical tied to learning and memory. Experts suspect that keeping acetylcholine levels up may help your mind stay sharp with age. Advertisement 5 Over time, Alzheimer's disease gradually destroys thinking and memory skills. LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS – Researchers are also zeroing in on carnosic acid, a powerful antioxidant in rosemary that shields brain cells from damage linked to Alzheimer's disease. In 2025, researchers created a stable version called diAcCA, and early lab results are promising. The compound improved memory, strengthened brain cell connections and slashed levels of Alzheimer's-linked proteins like amyloid-beta and tau. Even better, diAcCA only activated in inflamed brain areas, potentially reducing side effects. In mouse studies, it showed no signs of toxicity and delivered major cognitive gains — raising hopes for future human trials. Advertisement The breakthrough could be big, with Alzheimer's becoming a growing public health crisis as America's population gets older. Right now, about 7.2 million Americans over 65 have the memory-robbing disease. By 2060, that number is expected to nearly double to 13.8 million unless new treatments or cures emerge.
Politico
a day ago
- Politico
Senate appropriators defend the NIH
WASHINGTON WATCH Senate appropriators came out hard in support of the National Institutes of Health on Thursday, giving the agency a $400 million funding boost for the 2026 fiscal year. How so: The Senate Appropriations Committee upped the agency's budget to $48.7 billion in the 2026 funding bill that cleared the panel with a 26-3 vote Thursday. If the bill becomes law, it would increase cancer research by $150 million; Alzheimer's research by $100 million and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, research by $25 million. The NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the Office of Research on Women's Health would each get a $30 million boost. Research on maternal mortality, diabetes and rare diseases would also see an increase, among others. Why it matters: The funding boost is a rebuke from both Republicans and Democrats to the Trump administration's demand to decrease the NIH funding in the next fiscal year by as much as 40 percent, or $18 billion. Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine) said the legislation 'prioritizes funding to help make Americans healthier and supports life-saving medical research.' Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), the top Democrat on the panel, said the budget increase was a message to 'the scientists wondering if there will even be an NIH by the end of this administration. This committee's resounding message is: 'Yes, Congress has your back.'' Murray urged scientists to continue their research in the U.S. despite the efforts of other countries to lure them away. The appropriators also adopted an amendment Thursday that would limit the Trump administration's control over NIH research funding. An amendment in the bill's manager's package limits the administration's plan to shift funding for most NIH grants from a multiyear schedule to an upfront single-year payment. The amendment states that no funds appropriated in the fiscal 2026 spending bill can be used to increase the proportion of grants fully funded in the first year of the award, compared with fiscal 2024. The NIH can only increase that proportion of forward-funded grants if the agency ensures it isn't cutting grants to do so. What's next: The bill is cleared for floor action. But congressional leaders haven't started bipartisan negotiations toward overall government funding totals, increasing the odds that lawmakers will again resort to a stopgap funding patch before the next fiscal year starts on Oct. 1. WELCOME TO FUTURE PULSE This is where we explore the ideas and innovators shaping health care. Peacock feathers have reflective structures that can amplify light into a laser beam, Science reports. Share any thoughts, news, tips and feedback with Carmen Paun at cpaun@ Ruth Reader at rreader@ or Erin Schumaker at eschumaker@ Want to share a tip securely? Message us on Signal: CarmenP.82, RuthReader.02 or ErinSchumaker.01. MORNING MONEY: CAPITAL RISK — POLITICO's flagship financial newsletter has a new Friday edition built for the economic era we're living in: one shaped by political volatility, disruption and a wave of policy decisions with sector-wide consequences. Each week, Morning Money: Capital Risk brings sharp reporting and analysis on how political risk is moving markets and how investors are adapting. Want to know how health care regulation, tariffs, or court rulings could ripple through the economy? Start here. WORLD VIEW A draft United Nations plan to make the world healthier no longer includes several targets cracking down on sugary drinks, trans fats and tobacco to prevent and control noncommunicable diseases globally. Struck down: A target of 80 percent of countries taxing sugary drinks at levels recommended by the World Health Organization by 2030, POLITICO's Rory O'Neill reports. That goal was a pillar of the initial draft, which will take the form of a nonbinding political declaration world leaders are expected to endorse at a Sept. 25 meeting in New York, on the margins of the U.N. General Assembly. The latest version has also dropped commitments to eliminate trans fats and aims instead to reduce them to the 'lowest level possible.' It also requires front-of-pack labels with nutritional information. A requirement for health warnings on tobacco packaging to be graphic and accompanied by elements that make it unattractive to consumers is also gone. The new draft has softer language on tobacco advertising, requiring countries to restrict it instead of eliminate it. 'Make no mistake, the Declaration in its current form is a backslide,' said Alison Cox, director of policy and advocacy at the NCD Alliance, in a statement. The alliance is a Switzerland-based civil society group working to promote chronic disease prevention. Why it matters: World leaders aim to reduce premature mortality from noncommunicable diseases such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes by 2030 through prevention and treatment and to improve mental health and well-being globally. Noncommunicable diseases killed 18 million people under age 70 in 2021, according to the WHO. Most deaths were in low- and middle-income countries. The aims align with the U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s Make America Healthy Again agenda, but it's unclear how much the U.S. is involved in drafting the final text. HHS did not respond to a request for comment. What's next: Negotiators are meeting this week in New York to discuss the text.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Three factors will stall dementia and the aging process, according to new U.S. study
By 2050, over 1.7 million Canadians are projected to be living with dementia. This represents an increase of 187 per cent compared to 2020, when approximately 597,300 Canadians were living with dementia, according to the Alzheimer's Society of Canada. Dementia describes the decline of mental ability, while Alzheimer's Disease is the medical term for the brain disease that commonly causes dementia. Researchers are now saying certain lifestyle changes can stave off mental decline. A new U.S. study sets out what Alzheimer's researchers are calling the strongest evidence yet regarding what is involved in slowing the aging process and improving cognition. It comes down to three key factors: a diet heavy on leafy greens, berries and grains, regular moderate exercise and ongoing social interaction. Regular cardiovascular monitoring is also a factor. Jessica Langbaum, senior director of research strategy at the Banner Alzheimer's Institute in Phoenix was not involved directly in the research but she presented the findings at an annual conference of experts in Toronto on Wednesday. The Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) is the largest international meeting dedicated to advancing dementia science and clinical practice. This year's gathering brought together 8,000 scientists and clinicians from all over the world, with the goal of improving diagnosis, risk reduction and treatment. The study pulled together diet, exercise and socialization in one substantial, structured study of 2,100 people in their 60s and 70s at risk of developing dementia, showing that bad habits 'can really slow down memory and thinking' in adults at risk for cognitive impairment and dementia, Langbaum told the PBS New Hour in an interview on Wednesday evening. The subjects who participated in the study changed their habits, shifting from a sedentary lifestyle to an active one and improving their diet over a two-year period, resulting in cognitive function scores on par with people one or two years younger. That might not sound like much, but Langbaum says the results are significant evidence that change can occur without medication. 'And so, it's showing that we can change the trajectory of aging,' she said. There were two groups in the study. In one, lifestyle changes were structurally prescribed. In the other, the changes were self-directed. The results for the prescribed group were much better, but Langbaum says both groups showed improvement. The biggest challenge that study participants faced was sustaining a new exercise regime. Langbaum recommends people find something that they enjoy doing. 'If (you're) frustrated by it, (you're) just going to give up. But do something that you enjoy. Better yet, do it with somebody else or others around you because socialization is key, and lastly, something that you can adhere to, if you can schedule it. It's something that you can stay committed to.' Regarding nutrition she notes: 'We say what's good for the heart is good for the brain, so a nice balanced … nutritious diet with … those leafy greens, low in saturated fats, all of those things.' The American Alzheimer's Association spent close to US$50 million on the study. The National Institutes of Health spent even more to ensure many of the participants underwent brain scans, blood tests and sleep studies aimed at provide additional information down the road. Meanwhile, Langbaum expresses concern that structured intervention may not be sustainable in most communities. 'I think that's really the next stage of the research is, how do we make this scalable in communities so that people can implement these things into their daily lives?' The American Alzheimer's Association is planning to spend another US$40 million on implementing the lessons of the study. Langbaum says that will come with a change in the mindsets of doctors. They 'should be treating lifestyle interventions as they would a drug,' she told NPR. That would mean prescribing improved exercise and eating regimens and getting insurers to cover those prescriptions, she added. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here.
