Johnson and Johnson announces Reminyl trial analysis

Janssen-Ortho, a Johnson & Johnson brand-name pharmaceutical company, has announced the publication of a new study of Reminyl (galantamine HBr) in Neurology.

The video-imaging synthesis of treating Alzheimer’s disease (Vista) study is the first placebo-controlled clinical trial investigating individualised treatment outcomes in patients.

Vista showed that Alzheimer’s patients administered with the compound exhibited a lowering in verbal repetition, with 58 per cent of patients treated with Reminyl showing such a reduction, compared to 24 per cent treated with a placebo.

Repetitive verbalisation, such as asking the same question multiple times, is a common behavioural symptom of Alzheimer’s disease, Jansenn-Ortho notes, with the reduction of such symptoms a common treatment goal for caregivers.

Dr Kenneth Rockwood, lead investigator and professor of geriatric medicine at Dalhousie University, said: “Verbal repetition is a common hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease and is a challenge for patients and caregivers alike.”

He added that the analysis of the Vista clinical trial shows that verbal repetition can be reduced by treatment with Reminyl.

Last month, a study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal revealed that patients administered with Reminyl showed improved personal goal attainment, such as recognising family members, compared to those administered with placebo.