Therapeutics

NIC5-15

Tools

Back to the Top

Overview

Name: NIC5-15
Synonyms: Pinitol, D-Pinitol
Chemical Name: 3-O-Methyl-D-chiro-inositol
Therapy Type: Small Molecule (timeline), Supplement, Dietary (timeline)
Target Type: Amyloid-Related (timeline), Other (timeline)
Condition(s): Alzheimer's Disease
U.S. FDA Status: Alzheimer's Disease (Phase 2)
Company: Humanetics Pharmaceuticals Corporation

Background

NIC5-15 is pinitol, a naturally occurring cyclic sugar alcohol. It is found in soy and several other plants and fruits. Pinitol is known to act as an insulin sensitizer. According to company press releases, the compound also modulates γ-secretase to reduce Aβ production while sparing cleavage of the γ-secretase substrate Notch. Company press releases say the compound improves cognitive function and memory deficits in preclinical models of AD neuropathology (see company website). No peer-reviewed papers on NIC5-15/pinitol have been published in the scientific literature. Pinitol is commercially available as a food supplement.

Findings

A Phase 2a trial at the VA Medical Center, Bronx, New York, and Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, New York, assessed 1,500, 3,000, and 5,000 mg doses of NIC5-15 in 15 people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease over seven weeks for safety and efficacy (see MSSM website). This trial ended in 2008. At the 2009 ICAD conference in Vienna, preliminary results were reported to indicate good tolerability, as well as stabilization of cognition as measured by the ADAS-Cog. This trial was sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, and Humanetics Corporation.

In June 2012, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued a patent for the use of D-pinitol in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, and a second single-site Phase 2b study was begun. This trial is enrolling an estimated 40 patients with mild to moderate AD and assesses cognition, measured by ADAS-Cog as primary outcome. For all clinical trials of this compound, see clinicaltrials.gov.

Clinical Trial Timeline

  • Phase 2
  • Study completed / Planned end date
  • Planned end date unavailable
  • Study aborted
Sponsor Clinical Trial 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034
NCT00470418
N=15
NCT01928420
N=40

Last Updated: 11 Apr 2013

Comments

No Available Comments

Make a Comment

To make a comment you must login or register.

References

External Citations

  1. MSSM website
  2. patent
  3. clinicaltrials.gov
  4. company website

Further Reading

No Available Further Reading