Rosiglitazone does not improve cognition or global function when used as adjunctive therapy to AChE inhibitors in mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease: two phase 3 studies

INTRODUCTION

Two phase 3 studies evaluated the efficacy and safety of rosiglitazone (RSG), a type 2 diabetes treatment, in an extended release (RSG XR) form as adjunctive therapy to ongoing acetylcholine esterase inhibitor (AChEI) treatment in AD (REFLECT-2, adjunctive to donepezil; REFLECT-3, to any AChEI). An open-label extension study (REFLECT-4) assessed RSG XR long-term safety.

METHODS

In these two double-blind, placebo-controlled studies, subjects with mild-to-moderate probable AD were randomized within 2 apolipoprotein E (APOE) allelic strata (APOE ε4-positive, APOE ε4-negative) to once daily placebo, 2 mg RSG XR, or 8 mg RSG XR for 48 weeks (REFLECT-2, N=1,496; REFLECT-3, N=1,485). Co-primary efficacy endpoints were change from baseline in Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive subscale (ADAS-Cog) and Clinical Dementia Rating scale - Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB) scores at week 48. Three populations were analyzed: APOE4-negative, all subjects except APOE ε4 homozygotes, and the full intent-to-treat population.

RESULTS

No statistically or clinically relevant differences between treatment groups were observed on the a priori primary endpoints in REFLECT-2 or REFLECT-3. Edema was the most frequent adverse event with RSG in each study (14% and 19%, respectively, at 8 mg RSG XR).

CONCLUSIONS

No evidence of statistically or clinically significant efficacy in cognition or global function was detected for 2 mg or 8 mg RSG XR as adjunctive therapy to ongoing AChEIs. There was no evidence of an interaction between treatment and APOE status. Safety and tolerability of RSG XR was consistent with the known profile of rosiglitazone.

Performance of an automated real-time ST-segment analysis program to detect coronary occlusion and reperfusion

Continuously updated ST-segment recovery analysis has been shown to accurately predict infarct-related artery patency. Salient principles were converted into algorithms and incorporated into a portable ST monitor for optimal application. This study tested the automated program's ability to detect occlusion and reperfusion during balloon angioplasty. ST-segment recordings during 78 balloon occlusions in 31 patients were analyzed. The program requires at least one electrocardiogram with ST elevation of 200 microV or greater in the recording, caused by the current occlusion or by a previous occlusion, before it will yield a patency prediction. All 35 inflations causing peak ST elevation of 200 microV or more were indeed detected. All five inflations causing less than 200 microV ST elevation preceded by an inflation causing 200 microV or higher ST elevation were also detected. Occlusion was detected a median of 40 seconds after inflation, and reperfusion a median of 17 seconds after deflation. Peak ST elevation greater than 200 microV occurred in 19 of 26 left anterior descending artery inflations (73%), 1 of 22 left circumflex artery LCX inflations (5%), and 15 of 30 right coronary artery inflations (50%). Five different leads identified peak ST elevation through 12-lead surveillance. In this model of coronary occlusion during angioplasty balloon inflation, the automated patency assessment program appears to detect coronary angioplasty balloon occlusion and reperfusion within seconds in all occlusions causing a peak ST elevation of 200 microV or greater. Testing this automated patency assessment program as a noninvasive triage tool in myocardial infarction patients seems warranted.