Notes from the journals

ST A R PA PE R Efficacy and safety of tarenflurbil in mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease: a randomized phase II trial Wilcock GK, Black SE, Hendrix SB, et al; on behalf of the Tarenflurbil Phase II Study investigators Lancet Neurol 2008;7:483–93 Background. Amyloid-beta peptide Abeta(42) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The aim of this study is to test the effects of tarenflurbil, a selective Abeta(42)-lowering agent, on cognition and function in patients with mild to moderate AD. Method. Two hundred and ten patients who had a mini-mental state examination score of 15–26 were randomly assigned to receive tarenflurbil twice per day, 400 or 800 mg or placebo for 12 months. Results. Patients with mild AD in the 800 mg tarenflurbil group had lower rates of decline in their daily activities than of those in the placebo group. In patients with moderate AD, 800 mg of tarenflurbil twice per day had no significant effects. Adverse events included diarrhoea, nausea and dizziness. Conclusion. Eight hundred milligrams of tarenflurbil twice per day was well-tolerated and helped those with mild AD.