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Effects of Rivastigmine Patch on Activities of Daily Living and Cognition in Patients With Severe Dementia of the Alzheimer's Type (ACTION) (Study Protocol CENA713DUS44, NCT00948766) and a 24 Week Open-label Extension to Study CENA713DUS44

Registration Number
NCT00948766
Lead Sponsor
Novartis
Brief Summary

The core study assessed the efficacy of a higher dose of rivastigmine 13.3 mg/24 h transdermally (15 cm\^2 patch) compared to a lower dose of the rivastigmine 4.6 mg/24 h transdermally (5 cm\^2 patch) in patients with Severe Dementia of the Alzheimer's Type in a 24-week study. The extension study obtained additional safety and efficacy data, as well as provided the higher dose rivastigmine patch to all patients who completed the core study for an additional 24 weeks.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
716
Inclusion Criteria
  • Diagnosis of probable Alzheimer's disease (AD) according to National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association (NINCDS/ADRDA) criteria.
  • A Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score of ≥ 3 and ≤ 12.
  • Be able to complete at least 1 item on the Severe Impairment Battery (SIB).
  • Residing with someone in the community or in regular contact with the primary caregiver.
  • Be ambulatory or ambulatory with aid.
Exclusion Criteria
  • An advanced, severe, progressive, or unstable disease of any type that may interfere with efficacy and safety assessments or put the patient at special risk.
  • Patients currently residing in a nursing home.
  • Any current medical or neurological condition other than AD that could explain the patient's dementia.
  • A current diagnosis of probable or possible vascular dementia.
  • A current diagnosis of severe or unstable cardiovascular disease.
  • A current diagnosis of bradycardia (< 50 beats per minute [bpm]), sick-sinus syndrome, or conduction defects.
  • Clinically significant urinary obstruction.
  • History of malignancy of any organ system within the past 5 years unless patient is verified to be in stable condition with no active metastasis.
  • Current diagnosis of an active skin lesion/disorder that would prevent the patient from using a transdermal patch every day.
  • A known exaggerated pharmacological sensitivity or hypersensitivity to drugs similar to rivastigmine, or to other cholinergic compounds.
  • Taken any of the following substances (at the time of the Baseline Visit [Visit 2]).
  • Succinylcholine-type muscle relaxants during the previous 2 weeks.
  • Lithium during the previous 2 weeks.
  • An investigational drug during the previous 4 weeks.
  • A drug or treatment known to cause major organ system toxicity during the previous 4 weeks.
  • Rivastigmine (oral or transdermal patch), donepezil, galantamine, other cholinesterase inhibitors (eg, tacrine, physostigmine, or pyridostigmine), or other approved treatments for Alzheimer's disease during the previous 2 weeks, with exception of stable treatment with memantine for at least 3 months before study entry (Visit 1).
  • Centrally acting anticholinergic drugs including tricyclic and tetracyclic antidepressants during the previous 4 weeks.
  • Selegiline unless taken at a stable dose during the previous 4 weeks.
  • Peripheral anticholinergics not taken at a stable dose during the previous 4 weeks.

Extension study

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Complete the double-blind phase (Week 24) of the core study.
  • Provide, if mentally competent, a separate written informed consent prior to participation in the extension study. In addition, the patient's caregiver, will provide written informed consent prior to the patient's participation in the open-label extension study. If the patient is not able to provide written informed consent, written informed consent must be obtained from the legally authorized representative on the patient's behalf.
  • Continue to reside with someone in the community or in regular contact with the primary caregiver; patients who reside in an assisted living facility are eligible to participate.
  • Continue to have a primary caregiver willing to accept responsibility for supervising treatment (eg, application and removal of the patch daily at approximately the same time of day), assessing the condition of the patient throughout the extension study.
  • Must be medically stable and tolerating the current dose of rivastigmine patch as determined by the investigator.

Exclusion Criteria:

Refer to the core study protocol for full details of the exclusion criteria.

  • Patients who discontinued the core study due to any reason are excluded.
  • No additional exclusions may be applied by the investigator, in order to ensure that the study population will be representative of all eligible patients.

Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria applied to the study.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Rivastigmine 13.3 mg/24 h transdermal patchRivastigmine 13.3 mg/24 h (15 cm^2)In the core study, patients were titrated to the rivastigmine 13.3 mg/24 h dose in 2 steps. For Weeks 1-4, patients received rivastigmine 4.6 mg/24 h. For Weeks 5-8, patients received rivastigmine 9.5 mg/24 h and placebo. For Weeks 9-24, patients received rivastigmine 13.3 mg/24 h and placebo. In the extension study, all patients were switched to rivastigmine 9.5 mg/24 h for a 4-week titration period and were then titrated up to 13.3 mg/24 h for a further 20 weeks of treatment.
Rivastigmine 4.6 mg/24 h transdermal patchRivastigmine 4.6 mg/24 h (5 cm^2)In the core study, patients received rivastigmine 4.6 mg/24 h daily. For Weeks 1-4, patients received rivastigmine 4.6 mg/24 h. For Weeks 5-24, patients received rivastigmine 4.6 mg/24 h and placebo. No patients received this treatment in the extension study.
Rivastigmine 13.3 mg/24 h transdermal patchRivastigmine 4.6 mg/24 h (5 cm^2)In the core study, patients were titrated to the rivastigmine 13.3 mg/24 h dose in 2 steps. For Weeks 1-4, patients received rivastigmine 4.6 mg/24 h. For Weeks 5-8, patients received rivastigmine 9.5 mg/24 h and placebo. For Weeks 9-24, patients received rivastigmine 13.3 mg/24 h and placebo. In the extension study, all patients were switched to rivastigmine 9.5 mg/24 h for a 4-week titration period and were then titrated up to 13.3 mg/24 h for a further 20 weeks of treatment.
Rivastigmine 13.3 mg/24 h transdermal patchRivastigmine 9.5 mg/24 h (10 cm^2)In the core study, patients were titrated to the rivastigmine 13.3 mg/24 h dose in 2 steps. For Weeks 1-4, patients received rivastigmine 4.6 mg/24 h. For Weeks 5-8, patients received rivastigmine 9.5 mg/24 h and placebo. For Weeks 9-24, patients received rivastigmine 13.3 mg/24 h and placebo. In the extension study, all patients were switched to rivastigmine 9.5 mg/24 h for a 4-week titration period and were then titrated up to 13.3 mg/24 h for a further 20 weeks of treatment.
Rivastigmine 13.3 mg/24 h transdermal patchPlaceboIn the core study, patients were titrated to the rivastigmine 13.3 mg/24 h dose in 2 steps. For Weeks 1-4, patients received rivastigmine 4.6 mg/24 h. For Weeks 5-8, patients received rivastigmine 9.5 mg/24 h and placebo. For Weeks 9-24, patients received rivastigmine 13.3 mg/24 h and placebo. In the extension study, all patients were switched to rivastigmine 9.5 mg/24 h for a 4-week titration period and were then titrated up to 13.3 mg/24 h for a further 20 weeks of treatment.
Rivastigmine 4.6 mg/24 h transdermal patchPlaceboIn the core study, patients received rivastigmine 4.6 mg/24 h daily. For Weeks 1-4, patients received rivastigmine 4.6 mg/24 h. For Weeks 5-24, patients received rivastigmine 4.6 mg/24 h and placebo. No patients received this treatment in the extension study.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Core Study: Change From Baseline in the Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study-Activities of Daily Living-Severe Impairment Version (ADCS-ADL-SIV) Score at Week 24Baseline of the core study to Week 24 of the core study

The ADCS-ADL-SIV is designed to assess the patient's performance of both basic and instrumental activities of daily living such as those necessary for personal care, communicating and interacting with other people, maintaining a household, conducting hobbies and interests, and making judgments and decisions. For each of the 19 questions in the ADCS-ADL-SIV, there was either a forced choice of best response or a "yes" or "no" question with additional sub-questions. Responses for each item were obtained from the caregiver through an interview. Higher numbered scores and answers of "yes" reflected a more self-sufficient individual. The total score was calculated as the sum of all items and sub-questions and ranged from 0 to 54. A higher total score represented a higher functioning patient. A positive change score indicates improvement.

Core Study: Change From Baseline in the Severity Impairment Battery (SIB) Score at Week 24Baseline of the core study to Week 24 of the core study

The SIB is a 40-item scale developed for the evaluation of the severity of cognitive dysfunction in more advanced Alzheimer Disease patients. The domains assessed included social interaction, memory, language, attention, orientation, praxis, visuo-spatial ability, construction, and orienting to name. The items of the SIB were developed as simple 1-step commands which are presented by a trained rater with gestural cues and repeated if necessary. The SIB was scored from 0 to 100, with higher scores reflecting higher levels of cognitive ability. A positive change score indicates improvement.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Core Study: Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study-Clinical Global Impression of Change (ADCS-CGIC) Score at Week 24Baseline of the core study to Week 24 of the core study

The ADCS-CGIC assesses the clinical meaningfulness of a treatment based on the clinician's rating of change. The rating is provided by a trained clinician or psychometrician blinded to the patient's treatment. The rater interviewed the patient and caregiver separately at Baseline using a worksheet that provided space for notes and comments. At baseline, raters had access to all of the patient's available records and evaluations. The rater used a similar worksheet at follow-up visits, and referred to the baseline worksheet prior to making a rating of change. The worksheets were divided into 3 domains: mental/cognitive state, behavior, and functioning. Change ratings were based on a 7-point scale: Marked (1), moderate (2), and minimal improvement (3), no change (4), and marked (5), moderate (6), and minimal worsening (7). The percentage of patients in each of the 7 categories is reported.

Core Study: Change From Baseline in the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI-12) Score at Week 24Baseline of the core study to Week 24 of the core study

The NPI-12 assesses a wide range of behaviors encountered in patients with dementia to provide a means of distinguishing the frequency and severity of behavioral changes over time. Ten behavioral and 2 neurovegetative domains were evaluated in an interview with the caregiver given by a mental health professional. The scale included both frequency and severity ratings of each domain as well as a composite domain score (frequency x severity). The sum of the composite scores for the 12 domains yielded the NPI-12 total score. The NPI-12 was scored from 0 to 144, with lower scores reflecting improvement in psychiatric behavior. A negative change score indicates improvement.

Extension Study: Change From Baseline in the Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study-Activities of Daily Living-Severe Impairment Version (ADCS-ADL-SIV) Score at Week 24Baseline of the core study to Week 24 of the extension study

The ADCS-ADL-SIV is designed to assess the patient's performance of both basic and instrumental activities of daily living such as those necessary for personal care, communicating and interacting with other people, maintaining a household, conducting hobbies and interests, and making judgments and decisions. For each of the 19 questions in the ADCS-ADL-SIV, there was either a forced choice of best response or a "yes" or "no" question with additional sub-questions. Responses for each item were obtained from the caregiver through an interview. Higher numbered scores and answers of "yes" reflected a more self-sufficient individual. The total score was calculated as the sum of all items and sub-questions and ranged from 0 to 54. A higher total score represented a higher functioning patient. A positive change score indicates improvement.

Extension Study: Change From Baseline in the Severity Impairment Battery (SIB) Score at Week 24Baseline of the core study to Week 24 of the extension study

The SIB is a 40-item scale developed for the evaluation of the severity of cognitive dysfunction in more advanced Alzheimer Disease patients. The domains assessed included social interaction, memory, language, attention, orientation, praxis, visuo-spatial ability, construction, and orienting to name. The items of the SIB were developed as simple 1-step commands which are presented by a trained rater with gestural cues and repeated if necessary. The SIB was scored from 0 to 100, with higher scores reflecting higher levels of cognitive ability. A positive change score indicates improvement.

Extension Study: Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study-Clinical Global Impression of Change (ADCS-CGIC) Score at Week 24Baseline of the core study to Week 24 of the extension study

The ADCS-CGIC assesses the clinical meaningfulness of a treatment based on the clinician's rating of change. The rating is provided by a trained clinician or psychometrician blinded to the patient's treatment. The rater interviewed the patient and caregiver separately at Baseline using a worksheet that provided space for notes and comments. At baseline, raters had access to all of the patient's available records and evaluations. The rater used a similar worksheet at follow-up visits, and referred to the baseline worksheet prior to making a rating of change. The worksheets were divided into 3 domains: mental/cognitive state, behavior, and functioning. Change ratings were based on a 7-point scale: Marked (1), moderate (2), and minimal improvement (3), no change (4), and marked (5), moderate (6), and minimal worsening (7). The percentage of patients in each of the 7 categories is reported.

Trial Locations

Locations (95)

University Neurology, Inc.

🇺🇸

Cincinnati, Ohio, United States

MidAmerica Neuroscience Reseach Institute

🇺🇸

Lenexa, Kansas, United States

Duke University Medical Center

🇺🇸

Durham, North Carolina, United States

Innovative Clinical Trials

🇺🇸

San Antonio, Texas, United States

Radiant Research Inc.

🇺🇸

San Antonio, Texas, United States

San Francisco Clinical Research Center

🇺🇸

San Francisco, California, United States

Wayne State University/Detroit Medical center

🇺🇸

Detroit, Michigan, United States

Psychiatric Consultants, PC

🇺🇸

Franklin, Tennessee, United States

Volunteer Research Group

🇺🇸

Knoxville, Tennessee, United States

NeuroCognitive Institute

🇺🇸

Mt. Arlington, New Jersey, United States

Anderson Clinical Research

🇺🇸

Redlands, California, United States

Neuropsychiatric Research Center of Orange County

🇺🇸

Santa Ana, California, United States

Center for Clinical Trials

🇺🇸

Venice, Florida, United States

Precise Clinical Research Solutions

🇺🇸

Manhattan, Kansas, United States

IHS Research Center Inc.

🇺🇸

Conway, Arkansas, United States

ATP Clinical Research, Inc.

🇺🇸

Costa Mesa, California, United States

East Bay Physicians Medical Group

🇺🇸

Berkeley, California, United States

PCND Neuroscience Research Institute Inc./The Center for Memory and Aging

🇺🇸

Poway, California, United States

Neuro Pain Medical Center

🇺🇸

Fresno, California, United States

Memory Enhancement Center of NJ

🇺🇸

Toms River, New Jersey, United States

Neurologic Consultants, PA

🇺🇸

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States

UMDNJ-School of Osteopathic Medicine Center

🇺🇸

Stratford, New Jersey, United States

White-Wilson Medical Center

🇺🇸

Fort Walton Beach, Florida, United States

Clinical Research Studies Dept. of Clinical Science and Medical Education

🇺🇸

Boca Raton, Florida, United States

Sky, LLC.

🇺🇸

St Louis, Missouri, United States

Neuroscience Research of the Berkshires

🇺🇸

Pittsfield, Massachusetts, United States

Sunrise Clinical Research, Inc

🇺🇸

Hollywood, Florida, United States

Neurological Care of Central NY

🇺🇸

Liverpool, New York, United States

MD Clinical

🇺🇸

Hallandale Beach, Florida, United States

Pharmasite Research

🇺🇸

Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Neurological Research Clinic, Hattiesburg Clinic

🇺🇸

Hattiesburg, Mississippi, United States

Clinical Trials of America, Inc.

🇺🇸

Winston Salem, North Carolina, United States

UVA Neurology

🇺🇸

Charlottesville, Virginia, United States

Jacinto Medical Group, PA

🇺🇸

Baytown, Texas, United States

Lehigh Center for Clinical Research

🇺🇸

Allentown, Pennsylvania, United States

Future Search Trials

🇺🇸

Dallas, Texas, United States

Valley Medical Research

🇺🇸

Centerville, Ohio, United States

Research Protocol Management Specialists

🇺🇸

Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, United States

Neurological Associates, Inc.

🇺🇸

Richmond, Virginia, United States

INSPIRA Clinical Research

🇵🇷

San Juan, Puerto Rico

The Memory Clinic

🇺🇸

Bennington, Vermont, United States

Metro Medical Center

🇵🇷

Bayamon, Puerto Rico

Eastside Comprehensive medical Center, LLC

🇺🇸

New York, New York, United States

Grayline Clinical Drug Trials

🇺🇸

Wichita Falls, Texas, United States

Neurostudies, Inc.

🇺🇸

Port Charlotte, Florida, United States

Northwest Neuro Specialist, PLLC

🇺🇸

Tucson, Arizona, United States

Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center

🇺🇸

Coatesville, Pennsylvania, United States

Westmoreland Neurology associates, Inc.

🇺🇸

Greensburg, Pennsylvania, United States

TLC Neurology, P.L.L.C

🇺🇸

Arlington, Virginia, United States

California Neuroscience Research Medical Group, Inc.

🇺🇸

Sherman Oaks, California, United States

Indiana University Medical Center

🇺🇸

Indianapolis, Indiana, United States

LSU Health Sciences Center/Department of Psychiatry Psychopharmacology Research Clinic

🇺🇸

Shreveport, Louisiana, United States

The Neuroscience Center

🇺🇸

Ocean Springs, Mississippi, United States

The Burke Rehabilitation Hospital

🇺🇸

White Plains, New York, United States

Viking Clinical Research Center

🇺🇸

Temecula, California, United States

Clinical Research Advantage Inc./Neurological. Physicians of Arizona, Inc

🇺🇸

Tempe, Arizona, United States

Collaborative Neuroscience Network Inc.

🇺🇸

Garden Grove, California, United States

Collaborative Neuroscience Network, Inc

🇺🇸

Torrance, California, United States

Margolin Brain Institute

🇺🇸

Fresno, California, United States

Integrity Research, LLC

🇺🇸

Pensacola, Florida, United States

Alexian Brothers Neuroscience Institute

🇺🇸

Elk Grove Village, Illinois, United States

The Samuel and Alexia Bratton Memory Clinic, William Hill Inc

🇺🇸

Easton, Maryland, United States

J. Gary Booker, MD APMC

🇺🇸

Shreveport, Louisiana, United States

Orr & Associates Memory and Geriatric Behavioral Health Clinic

🇺🇸

St. Paul, Minnesota, United States

West Michigan Clinical Research

🇺🇸

Muskegon, Michigan, United States

UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical Center

🇺🇸

New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States

Alzheimer's Research Corporation

🇺🇸

Manchester, New Jersey, United States

Upstate Clinical Research, LLC

🇺🇸

Albany, New York, United States

Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research

🇺🇸

Orangeburg, New York, United States

Alzheimer's Memory Center

🇺🇸

Charlotte, North Carolina, United States

Paramount Clinical Research

🇺🇸

Bridgeville, Pennsylvania, United States

Behavioral Medical Research of Staten Island

🇺🇸

Staten Island, New York, United States

Rhode Island Mood & Memory Research Institute

🇺🇸

East Providence, Rhode Island, United States

University of Texas Medical Branch

🇺🇸

Galveston, Texas, United States

The Center for Excellence in Aging and Geriatric Health

🇺🇸

Williamsburg, Virginia, United States

Alliance Research Group, LLC

🇺🇸

Richmond, Virginia, United States

Internal Medicine Northwest

🇺🇸

Tacoma, Washington, United States

Independent Psychiatric Consultants, SC

🇺🇸

Waukesha, Wisconsin, United States

Quantum Laboratories Memory Disorder Center

🇺🇸

Deerfield Beach, Florida, United States

Brain Matters Research, Inc.

🇺🇸

Delray Beach, Florida, United States

St. Louis University

🇺🇸

St. Louis, Missouri, United States

Richmond Behavioral Associates

🇺🇸

Staten Island, New York, United States

Elkhart Clinic, LLC

🇺🇸

Elkhart, Indiana, United States

Premiere Research Institute

🇺🇸

West Palm Beach, Florida, United States

Premier Psychiatric Research Institute, LLC

🇺🇸

Lincoln, Nebraska, United States

Senior Care of Colorado

🇺🇸

Aurora, Colorado, United States

Compass Research, LLC

🇺🇸

Orlando, Florida, United States

Stedman Clinical Trials, LLC

🇺🇸

Tampa, Florida, United States

University of Nebraska Medical Center

🇺🇸

Omaha, Nebraska, United States

Cognitive Assessment Clinic

🇺🇸

Portland, Oregon, United States

Michigan Neurology Associates, P.C.

🇺🇸

Clinton Township, Michigan, United States

Memory Enhancement Center of America, Inc.

🇺🇸

Eatontown, New Jersey, United States

Dent Neurological Institute

🇺🇸

Amherst, New York, United States

University of Kansas Medical Center

🇺🇸

Kansas City, Kansas, United States

Thomas Jefferson University

🇺🇸

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

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