PMID- 30248105 OWN - NLM STAT- MEDLINE DCOM- 20190409 LR - 20190409 IS - 1549-1676 (Electronic) IS - 1549-1277 (Print) IS - 1549-1277 (Linking) VI - 15 IP - 9 DP - 2018 Sep TI - Nilvadipine in mild to moderate Alzheimer disease: A randomised controlled trial. PG - e1002660 LID - 10.1371/journal.pmed.1002660 [doi] LID - e1002660 AB - BACKGROUND: This study reports the findings of the first large-scale Phase III investigator-driven clinical trial to slow the rate of cognitive decline in Alzheimer disease with a dihydropyridine (DHP) calcium channel blocker, nilvadipine. Nilvadipine, licensed to treat hypertension, reduces amyloid production, increases regional cerebral blood flow, and has demonstrated anti-inflammatory and anti-tau activity in preclinical studies, properties that could have disease-modifying effects for Alzheimer disease. We aimed to determine if nilvadipine was effective in slowing cognitive decline in subjects with mild to moderate Alzheimer disease. METHODS AND FINDINGS: NILVAD was an 18-month, randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial that randomised participants between 15 May 2013 and 13 April 2015. The study was conducted at 23 academic centres in nine European countries. Of 577 participants screened, 511 were eligible and were randomised (258 to placebo, 253 to nilvadipine). Participants took a trial treatment capsule once a day after breakfast for 78 weeks. Participants were aged >50 years, meeting National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke/Alzheimer's disease Criteria (NINCDS-ADRDA) for diagnosis of probable Alzheimer disease, with a Standardised Mini-Mental State Examination (SMMSE) score of >/=12 and <27. Participants were randomly assigned to 8 mg sustained-release nilvadipine or matched placebo. The a priori defined primary outcome was progression on the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale Cognitive Subscale-12 (ADAS-Cog 12) in the modified intention-to-treat (mITT) population (n = 498), with the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale sum of boxes (CDR-sb) as a gated co-primary outcome, eligible to be promoted to primary end point conditional on a significant effect on the ADAS-Cog 12. The analysis set had a mean age of 73 years and was 62% female. Baseline demographic and Alzheimer disease-specific characteristics were similar between treatment groups, with reported mean of 1.7 years since diagnosis and mean SMMSE of 20.4. The prespecified primary analyses failed to show any treatment benefit for nilvadipine on the co-primary outcome (p = 0.465). Decline from baseline in ADAS-Cog 12 on placebo was 0.79 (95% CI, -0.07-1.64) at 13 weeks, 6.41 (5.33-7.49) at 52 weeks, and 9.63 (8.33-10.93) at 78 weeks and on nilvadipine was 0.88 (0.02-1.74) at 13 weeks, 5.75 (4.66-6.85) at 52 weeks, and 9.41 (8.09-10.73) at 78 weeks. Exploratory analyses of the planned secondary outcomes showed no substantial effects, including on the CDR-sb or the Disability Assessment for Dementia. Nilvadipine appeared to be safe and well tolerated. Mortality was similar between groups (3 on nilvadipine, 4 on placebo); higher counts of adverse events (AEs) on nilvadipine (1,129 versus 1,030), and serious adverse events (SAEs; 146 versus 101), were observed. There were 14 withdrawals because of AEs. Major limitations of this study were that subjects had established dementia and the likelihood that non-Alzheimer subjects were included because of the lack of biomarker confirmation of the presence of brain amyloid. CONCLUSIONS: The results do not suggest benefit of nilvadipine as a treatment in a population spanning mild to moderate Alzheimer disease. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02017340, EudraCT number 2012-002764-27. FAU - Lawlor, Brian AU - Lawlor B AUID- ORCID: 0000-0002-5012-2116 AD - Mercer's Institute for Research on Ageing, St. James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. AD - Department of Medical Gerontology, Trinity College Dublin (TCD), Dublin, Ireland. FAU - Segurado, Ricardo AU - Segurado R AUID- ORCID: 0000-0002-3547-6733 AD - Centre for Support and Training in Analysis and Research (CSTAR), University College Dublin (UCD), Dublin, Ireland. AD - School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sport Science, University College Dublin (UCD), Dublin, Ireland. FAU - Kennelly, Sean AU - Kennelly S AD - Department of Age Related Healthcare, Tallaght Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. AD - Department of Medical Gerontology, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland. FAU - Olde Rikkert, Marcel G M AU - Olde Rikkert MGM AUID- ORCID: 0000-0003-1397-1677 AD - Department of Geriatric Medicine, Radboudumc Alzheimer Center, Donders Institute of Medical Neurosciences, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, the Netherlands. FAU - Howard, Robert AU - Howard R AUID- ORCID: 0000-0002-3071-2338 AD - Division of Psychiatry, University College London and King's College London, London, United Kingdom. FAU - Pasquier, Florence AU - Pasquier F AUID- ORCID: 0000-0001-9880-9788 AD - CHU Lille, Univ. Lille, DISTALZ Laboratory of Excellence, F-59000 Lille, France. FAU - Borjesson-Hanson, Anne AU - Borjesson-Hanson A AD - Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden. FAU - Tsolaki, Magda AU - Tsolaki M AUID- ORCID: 0000-0002-2072-8010 AD - Papanikolaou General Hospital of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece. FAU - Lucca, Ugo AU - Lucca U AD - Laboratory of Geriatric Neuropsychiatry, IRCCS Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milano, Italy. FAU - Molloy, D William AU - Molloy DW AUID- ORCID: 0000-0001-7370-8630 AD - University College Cork Centre for Gerontology and Rehabilitation, Cork, Ireland. FAU - Coen, Robert AU - Coen R AD - Mercer's Institute for Research on Ageing, St. James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. FAU - Riepe, Matthias W AU - Riepe MW AD - Department of Geriatrics and Old Age Psychiatry, Psychiatry II, Ulm University at BKH Gunzburg, Gunzburg, Germany. FAU - Kalman, Janos AU - Kalman J AD - Department of Psychiatry, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary. FAU - Kenny, Rose Anne AU - Kenny RA AD - Department of Medical Gerontology, Trinity College Dublin (TCD), Dublin, Ireland. FAU - Cregg, Fiona AU - Cregg F AD - Department of Medical Gerontology, Trinity College Dublin (TCD), Dublin, Ireland. FAU - O'Dwyer, Sarah AU - O'Dwyer S AD - Mercer's Institute for Research on Ageing, St. James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. FAU - Walsh, Cathal AU - Walsh C AD - Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland. AD - Mathematics Applications Consortium for Science and Industry (MACSI), Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland. FAU - Adams, Jessica AU - Adams J AD - Department of Old Age Psychiatry, King's College London, London, United Kingdom. FAU - Banzi, Rita AU - Banzi R AD - IRCCS Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milano, Italy. FAU - Breuilh, Laetitia AU - Breuilh L AD - CHU Lille, Univ. Lille, DISTALZ Laboratory of Excellence, F-59000 Lille, France. FAU - Daly, Leslie AU - Daly L AUID- ORCID: 0000-0001-8560-1195 AD - Centre for Support and Training in Analysis and Research (CSTAR), University College Dublin (UCD), Dublin, Ireland. AD - School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sport Science, University College Dublin (UCD), Dublin, Ireland. FAU - Hendrix, Suzanne AU - Hendrix S AD - Pentara Corporation, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America. FAU - Aisen, Paul AU - Aisen P AD - Department of Neurology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America. FAU - Gaynor, Siobhan AU - Gaynor S AD - Molecular Medicine Ireland (MMI), Dublin, Ireland. FAU - Sheikhi, Ali AU - Sheikhi A AD - Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland. AD - Mathematics Applications Consortium for Science and Industry (MACSI), Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland. FAU - Taekema, Diana G AU - Taekema DG AD - Department of Geriatric Medicine, Rijnstate Hospital, Arnhem, the Netherlands. FAU - Verhey, Frans R AU - Verhey FR AD - Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School of Mental Health and Neuroscience, Alzheimer Center Limburg, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands. FAU - Nemni, Raffaello AU - Nemni R AD - IRCCS Don Gnocchi Foundation-University of Milan, Milan, Italy. FAU - Nobili, Flavio AU - Nobili F AUID- ORCID: 0000-0001-9811-0897 AD - Department of Neuroscience (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy. AD - IRCCS AOU Polyclinic, Hospital San Martino, Genoa, Italy. FAU - Franceschi, Massimo AU - Franceschi M AD - Neurology Department, Multimedica, Castellanza, Italy. FAU - Frisoni, Giovanni AU - Frisoni G AD - Centro San Giovanni di Dio-IRCCS Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy. FAU - Zanetti, Orazio AU - Zanetti O AD - Centro San Giovanni di Dio-IRCCS Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy. FAU - Konsta, Anastasia AU - Konsta A AD - Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), First Psychiatric Department, Papageorgiou General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece. FAU - Anastasios, Orologas AU - Anastasios O AD - Ahepa University General Hospital of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece. FAU - Nenopoulou, Styliani AU - Nenopoulou S AUID- ORCID: 0000-0002-9386-3694 AD - Papanikolaou General Hospital of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece. FAU - Tsolaki-Tagaraki, Fani AU - Tsolaki-Tagaraki F AUID- ORCID: 0000-0003-2349-662X AD - Papanikolaou General Hospital of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece. FAU - Pakaski, Magdolna AU - Pakaski M AD - Department of Psychiatry, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary. FAU - Dereeper, Olivier AU - Dereeper O AD - Centre Hospitalier de Calais, Calais, France. FAU - de la Sayette, Vincent AU - de la Sayette V AD - Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Caen, Caen, France. FAU - Senechal, Olivier AU - Senechal O AD - Centre Hospitalier de Lens, Lens, France. FAU - Lavenu, Isabelle AU - Lavenu I AUID- ORCID: 0000-0001-7345-3295 AD - Centre Hospitalier de Bethune, Bethune, France. FAU - Devendeville, Agnes AU - Devendeville A AD - Centre Hospitalier Universitaire d'Amiens, Amien, France. FAU - Calais, Gauthier AU - Calais G AD - Groupement des Hopitaux de l'Institut Catholique de Lille (GHICL), Lille, France. FAU - Crawford, Fiona AU - Crawford F AD - Archer Pharmaceuticals, Sarasota, Florida, United States of America. AD - Roskamp Institute, Sarasota, Florida, United States of America. FAU - Mullan, Michael AU - Mullan M AD - Archer Pharmaceuticals, Sarasota, Florida, United States of America. AD - Roskamp Institute, Sarasota, Florida, United States of America. CN - NILVAD Study Group LA - eng SI - ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT02017340 SI - EudraCT/2012-002764-27 PT - Clinical Trial, Phase III PT - Journal Article PT - Multicenter Study PT - Randomized Controlled Trial PT - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't DEP - 20180924 PL - United States TA - PLoS Med JT - PLoS medicine JID - 101231360 RN - 0 (Calcium Channel Blockers) RN - 0 (Nootropic Agents) RN - 0214FUT37J (nilvadipine) RN - I9ZF7L6G2L (Nifedipine) SB - IM MH - Aged MH - Aged, 80 and over MH - Alzheimer Disease/*drug therapy/psychology MH - Calcium Channel Blockers/*therapeutic use MH - Cognitive Dysfunction/drug therapy/psychology MH - Disease Progression MH - Double-Blind Method MH - Europe MH - Female MH - Humans MH - Male MH - Middle Aged MH - Nifedipine/*analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use MH - Nootropic Agents/*therapeutic use MH - Treatment Outcome PMC - PMC6152871 COIS- I have read the journal's policy and the authors of this manuscript have the following competing interests: SH is a paid employee of Pentara Corporation, which received payment to verify the primary outcome analysis of this study, and is also a paid consultant for Acumen Pharmaceuticals, Affiris AG, Affirmativ Diagnostics PLLC, Alkahest, Allergan, Alzheon, Amylyx Pharmaceuticals, Apodemus, Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Banner Alzheimer's Institute, Biogen, Dr. Richard Isaacson, Gerson Lehrman Group, Grifols Shared Services North America, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, M3 Biotechnology, Neurotrope BioScience, Nutricia Research B.V., PhotoPharmics, Regenera Pharma, Roche (F. Hoffmann-La Roche--Switzerland), Toyama Chemical Co., and vTv Therapeutics; MM and FC are paid employees of Archer Pharmaceuticals, which owns patents for the use of nilvadipine in Alzheimer disease; MM, FC, SK, RS, and BL are named as inventors in a pending patent for the use of nilvadipine based on the results of this clinical trial. No other authors have declared competing interests. EDAT- 2018/09/25 06:00 MHDA- 2019/04/10 06:00 PMCR- 2018/09/24 CRDT- 2018/09/25 06:00 PHST- 2018/02/23 00:00 [received] PHST- 2018/08/24 00:00 [accepted] PHST- 2018/09/25 06:00 [entrez] PHST- 2018/09/25 06:00 [pubmed] PHST- 2019/04/10 06:00 [medline] PHST- 2018/09/24 00:00 [pmc-release] AID - PMEDICINE-D-18-00761 [pii] AID - 10.1371/journal.pmed.1002660 [doi] PST - epublish SO - PLoS Med. 2018 Sep 24;15(9):e1002660. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1002660. eCollection 2018 Sep.