Addressing Unmet Needs of Dementia With Lewy Bodies: James Galvin, MD, MPH

WATCH TIME: 4 minutes

“This compounds—CT1812—binds to something called the sigma 2 receptor. What's interesting about binding to this receptor is that it seems to displace or block the ability of these oligomers to bind to cells."

At the 2022 Clinical Trials on Alzheimer Disease (CTAD) conference, held November 29 to December 2, in San Francisco, California, several trials assessing investigational agents for Alzheimer disease (AD) and related dementias were presented. Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), one of the causes of dementia, leads to a decline in thinking, reasoning, and independent function. As with other types of dementia, there is no single test that can conclusively diagnose DLB. Similarly, the need for treatment options for DLB remains significantly high, as there are currently no FDA-approved therapeutics.

Several of those within the field, including expert James Galvin, MD, MPH, are actively trying to expand the DLB treatment toolbox. Galvin, the director of the Comprehensive Center for Brain Health at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, is currently leading a phase 2 study (NCT0522514) assessing CT1812 (Cognition Therapeutics), an experimental orally delivered, brain penetrant, small molecule therapeutic designed for DLB. The agent selectively binds the sigma-2 receptor, displaces toxic oligomers, and has been shown in non-clinical studies to normalize disrupted cellular processes, protect neurons, and restore cognitive function in transgenic animals.

NeurologyLive® caught up with Galvin at CTAD to discuss some of the fundemental differences in pathology between AD and DLB, as well as the symptoms patients may face. Additionally, he provided perspective on why CT1812 has the potential to become the first therapeutic available for patients with DLB.