Verubecestat

Verubecestat (MK-8931) is an experimental drug for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.[1] It is an inhibitor of beta-secretase 1 (BACE1).[2][3]

Verubecestat
Clinical data
Other namesMK-8931
ATC code
  • None
Legal status
Legal status
  • Investigational
Identifiers
CAS Number
PubChem CID
ChemSpider
UNII
KEGG
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC17H17F2N5O3S
Molar mass409.41 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)

In April 2012 phase I clinical results were announced.[4] Phase 1b results have also been reported.[3][2]

As of December 2016 it was in two phase 2/3 clinical trials that have progressed to phase 3.[1][5][6] EPOCH, was to complete data collection for the primary outcome measure by June 2017.[6] However, in February 2017 Merck halted its late-stage trial of verubecestat for mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease after it was reported as having "virtually no chance of finding a positive clinical effect" according to an independent panel of experts.[7] The results of Merck's trial of verubecestat on patients with prodromal (early stage) Alzheimer's were expected in February 2019. However, the trial was terminated in February 2018, after a data monitoring committee concluded it was unlikely that the drug would show a positive benefit/risk ratio.[8][9] The final conclusion was that "verubecestat did not reduce cognitive or functional decline in patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease and was associated with treatment-related adverse events". Verubecestat was projected to be a breakthrough medicine for dementia related illness, however it is still unknown why the medicine was not effective in humans. [10]

References
  1. Simon Makin (November 2, 2016). "New Alzheimer's drug clears milestone in human clinical trial". Scientific American.
  2. Forman M, Kleijn H, Dockendorf M, Palcza J, Tseng J, Canales C, et al. (2013). "The novel BACE inhibitor MK-8931 dramatically lowers CSF beta-amyloid in patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease". Alzheimer's & Dementia. 9 (4): P139. doi:10.1016/j.jalz.2013.04.083.
  3. Yan R, Vassar R (March 2014). "Targeting the β secretase BACE1 for Alzheimer's disease therapy". The Lancet. Neurology. 13 (3): 319–29. doi:10.1016/S1474-4422(13)70276-X. PMC 4086426. PMID 24556009.
  4. "Merck presents results of a phase I clinical trial evaluating investigational BACE inhibitor MK-8931 at American Academy of Neurology". April 2012. Archived from the original on 2012-07-28. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
  5. "Efficacy and safety trial of verubecestat (MK-8931) in participants with prodromal Alzheimer's disease (MK-8931-019) (APECS)". Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  6. "An efficacy and safety trial of verubecestat (MK-8931) in mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease (P07738) (EPOCH)". Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. October 2016. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  7. "Merck announces EPOCH study of verubecestat for the treatment of people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease to stop for lack of efficacy" (Press release). Merck. 14 February 2017.
  8. Barber, J. (2018). Merck & Co. terminates Phase III study of verubecestat in prodromal Alzheimer's disease. Retrieved from https://www.firstwordpharma.com/node/1542930
  9. Clinical trial number NCT01953601 for "Efficacy and Safety Trial of Verubecestat (MK-8931) in Participants With Prodromal Alzheimer's Disease (MK-8931-019)" at ClinicalTrials.gov
  10. Egan, Michael F; Kost, James; Tariot, Pierre N; Aisen, Paul S; Cummings, Jeffrey L; Vellas, Bruno; Sur, Cyrille; Mukai, Yuki; Voss, Tiffini; Furtek, Christine; Mahoney, Erin; Harper Mozley, Lyn; Vandenberghe, Rik; Mo, Yi; Michelson, David (2018). "Randomized Trial of Verubecestat for Mild-to-Moderate Alzheimer's Disease". New England Journal of Medicine. 378 (18): 1691. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1706441. PMID 29719179.
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