Anavex's Blarcamesine Cuts Alzheimer's Progression by 20 Months in Phase IIb/III Trial

At the 2025 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference, Anavex Life Sciences presented promising data on blarcasemine, an oral small molecule targeting early-stage Alzheimer's disease, demonstrating significant cognitive and functional improvements in patients. The Phase IIb/III ATTENTION-AD trial showed blarcasemine improved cognitive function by 36.3% and daily functioning by 27.6%, with early treatment providing patients with up to 19.5 months of 'time saved,' delaying disease progression. Precision Medicine approaches targeting specific genetic profiles further enhanced the drug’s efficacy, potentially benefiting up to 70% of the Alzheimer's population. These findings complement recent advances in the Alzheimer's drug market, which has seen approvals of disease-modifying therapies like lecanemab, a monoclonal antibody that also delays disease progression, particularly effective in patients with low tau protein levels. Lecanemab has been shown to slow cognitive decline significantly over four years, underscoring the critical importance of early intervention. Together, these developments signal a growing arsenal of treatments focused on modifying the course of Alzheimer's rather than just alleviating symptoms.