BioCentury
ARTICLE | Clinical News

Pirenzepine: Development discontinued

February 4, 2013 8:00 AM UTC

AC Immune discontinued development of ACI-91 after top-line data from a double-blind, placebo-controlled, German and Austrian Phase II trial in 63 patients with mild to moderate AD showed that twice-daily 75 mg ACI-91 for 12 months plus an acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor was associated with a decrease in undisclosed measures of cognitive performance and clinical function. The company said the negative effect on cognition is likely related to ACI-91's "unexpected central anticholinergic properties," but declined to provide details. AC Immune also said there were no consistent effects on biomarkers of AD. The overall tolerability of ACI-91 was rated as "good" in most patients. AC Immune in-licensed ACI-91 from ProteoSys in 2006, but declined to disclose how the discontinuation affects the deal. ...