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HMTM

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Overview

Name: HMTM
Synonyms: LMTM, LMTX, LMT-X, TRx0237, Tau aggregation inhibitor (TAI), Methylene Blue
Chemical Name: Hydromethylthionine mesylate, Leuco-methylthioninium bis(hydromethanesulfonate)
Therapy Type: Small Molecule (timeline)
Target Type: Tau (timeline)
Condition(s): Alzheimer's Disease, Frontotemporal Dementia
U.S. FDA Status: Alzheimer's Disease (Phase 3), Frontotemporal Dementia (Phase 3)
Company: TauRx Therapeutics Ltd
Approved for: Methylene Blue predates FDA. Used for treatment of malaria and methemoglobinemia.

Background

TRx0237 (LMTX™) is a second-generation tau protein aggregation inhibitor for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and frontotemporal dementia. It is a replacement formulation for Rember®, the first company's first proprietary formulation of methylthioninium chloride (MTC). Both TRx0237 and Rember are derivatives of Methylene Blue, an old drug that predates the FDA and is being widely used in Africa for the treatment for malaria, as well as for methemoglobinemia and other conditions. TRx0237 and Rember share the same mode of action, but TRx0237 has been designed as a stabilized, reduced form of MTC to improve the drug's absorption, bioavailability, and tolerability. 

The rationale behind this approach is that these compounds prevent tau aggregation or dissolve existing aggregates to interfere with downstream pathological consequences of aberrant tau in tauopathies including Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases. Tau pathology is widely considered to be downstream of Aβ pathology and is more closely linked to cognitive deficits in Alzheimer's disease. Mutations in the tau gene cause frontotemporal dementia, not Alzheimer's disease, but tau is considered a central drug target for all tauopathies, including Alzheimer's.

Prior to the first publicized Phase 2 trial on Rember TM in 2008, one peer-reviewed paper to support this rationale had been published, which reported that Methylene Blue interfered with the tau-tau binding necessary for aggregation (Wischik et al., 1996). In 2015, the same lab published on LMTX®, claiming a Ki of 0.12 micromolar for inhibition of intracellular tau aggregation, and a similar potency for disrupting tau aggregates isolated from AD brain (Harrington et al., 2015).

Numerous independent academic investigations of the commercially available parent compound, Methylene Blue, have reported potentially beneficial effects on a growing list of cellular and system-level endpoints, including tau fibrillization in vitro (Crowe et al., 2013), autophagy (e.g. Congdon et al., 2012), neuroprotection via mitochondrial antioxidant properties (e.g. Wen et al., 2011), as well as on Aβ clearance and proteasome function in transgenic AD mouse models (Medina et al., 2011), and spatial learning and brain metabolism in rats (Deiana et al., 2009; Riha et al., 2011). One mechanistic study found that Methylene Blue oxidizes cysteine sulfhydryl groups on tau in a way that keeps tau in the monomeric state (Feb 2013 news). Subsequently, TRx0237’s developers reported that the inhibition of tau aggregation is cysteine-independent (Al-Hilaly et al., 2018).

In preclinical work, LMTX was reported to improve learning and reducedbrain tau load in two strains of tau transgenic mice (Melis et al., 2015). The compound increased cholinergic signaling and mitochondrial function in mice (Kondak et al., 2023). These effects, but not tau aggregation, were blocked by chronic pretreatment with an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor or memantine (Riedel et al., 2020; Kondak et al., 2022; Santos et al., 2022). Proteomic analysis of tau mice suggested LMTX acts via tau-dependent and -independent actions (Schwab et al., 2021). These studies all originate from one lab. An independent group reported that neither Methylene Blue not LMTM protected cells in a high throughput screen for tau-mediated toxicity (Lim et al. 2023).

Some studies reported a generalized anti-aggregation effect for Methylene Blue against aggregation-prone proteins, such as prion protein and TDP-43 (e.g. Cavaliere et al., 2013; Arai et al., 2010). Other papers report no inhibition of tau- and polyglutamine-mediated neurotoxicity in vivo (see van Bebber et al., 2010). In mice overexpressing human α-synuclein, LMTM treatment reduced α-synuclein inclusions in the brain, and normalized movement and anxiety-related behaviors (Schwab et al., 2017). It did not alter glutamate release or related behaviors in these mice (Schwab et al., 2022).

According to a case report, an asymptomatic carrier of the P301S MAPT mutation remained cognitively stable and cerebral atrophy progressed more slowly than expected after 5 years on LMTM treatment during the expected time of onset of frontotemporal dementia symptoms (Bentham et al., 2021).

Findings

No information on Phase 1 trials of TRx0237 is available. A four-week Phase 2 safety study of 250 mg/day of TRx0237 in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease began in September 2012 but was terminated in April 2013, reportedly for administrative reasons.

In November 2012, TauRx started a Phase 3 study comparing 200 mg/day of LMTM to placebo in a planned 800 patients with a diagnosis of either all-cause dementia or Alzheimer's disease mild enough to score above an MMSE of 20. The trial ran at more than 90 sites in North America and Europe. As primary outcomes, it used standard cognitive (ADAS-Cog 11) and clinical (ADCS-CGIC) batteries, as well as temporal lobe brain metabolism as measured by FDG-PET and safety parameters. Results were presented—and disputed—at the 2016 CTAD meeting. Participants on LMTM declined on cognition (ADAS-Cog) and functional scales (ADCS ADL) as rapidly as did patients on placebo, which contained a low dose of active compound for coloring purposes (Dec 2016 conference newsWilcock et al., 2018). 

Another Phase 3 trial compared 150 and 250 mg/day of TRx0237 with placebo in 891 patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease with an MMSE of 14 or higher. Started in 2013, this trial involved more than 80 sites in North America, Australia, Europe, and Asia. It used clinical (ADCS-CGIC), cognitive (ADAS-Cog 11), and safety measures as primary outcomes. Negative results from this trial were presented at the 2016 AAIC conference in Toronto and later published after peer review (Jul 2016 conference newsGauthier et al., 2016).

A third Phase 3 trial evaluated TRx0237 in the behavioral variant of frontotemporal dementia, the most common form of this disease. Begun in August 2013, this trial targeted enrollment of 180 people with probable bvFTD who have frontotemporal atrophy confirmed by MRI and whose MMSE is above 20. The trial compared 200 mg/day to placebo for the drug's ability to show clinical benefit on activities of daily living as measured by the modified ADCS-CGIC Alzheimer's scale and the revised Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination (ACE-R), a widely used psychometric tool in FTD clinical research. This trial was to be conducted at 45 sites in North America, Europe, Australia, and Singapore. At the 2016 ICFTD conference in Munich, this trial was reported to have missed its co-primary endpoints (Sep 2016 conference newscompany press release). Results were published after peer review (Shiels et al., 2020).

These three Phase 3 trials used “active placebo” tablets that include 4 mg of TRx0237 as a urinary and fecal colorant to help maintain blinding; hence the "placebo" group received a total of 8 mg/day of TRx0237. TRx0237's predecessor compound, Rember TM, colors urine and feces, and the blinding of its Phase 2 trial has been questioned (see Oct 2012 news for details and Q&A with TRx0237's founding scientist, Claude Wischik). However, post-hoc pharmacokinetic analyses of the Phase 3 trials led the investigators to claim that even 8 mg daily TRx0237 was sufficient to induce changes in brain structure and function (e.g., see Schelter et al., 2019).

In January 2018, TauRx started a Phase 2/3 monotherapy trial aiming to enroll 180 people with all-cause dementia and Alzheimer's disease, at 55 sites in North America, Belgium, Poland, and the U.K. The trial compares a six-month course of 4 mg of LMTM—renamed to HMTM—twice daily. This is the daily dose of HMTM previously admixed to "active placebo'' in the prior Phase 3 trials. LMTM is compared to 4 mg Methylene Blue twice weekly. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors or memantine are not allowed. Primary outcomes include 18F-FDG-PET imaging and safety; secondary outcomes include structural MRI, as well as measures of cognition and activities of daily living.

In September 2018, TauRx changed the trial protocol to add a third treatment arm of 8 mg HMTM twice daily. The trial increased enrollment to 375, and extended dosing to nine months. Eligibility criteria were changed to accept only people with mild cognitive impairment due to AD, a Global Clinical Dementia Rating of 0.5, and a positive amyloid PET scan. Primary outcomes were also changed, to include a composite measure of cognition and function comprising selected items from the ADAS-Cog and ADCS-ADL scales. The trial was enlarged to 147 sites in North America and Europe.

Recruitment ended in October 2019. In late 2019, the first of three listed primary outcomes was changed from 18F FDG PET to ADAS-Cog 11; the composite measure was changed to the ADSC-ADL23. The inclusion criteria were relaxed to once again include people with more advanced disease, from an earlier MMSE range of 20-27 to 16-27, from a CDR of 0.5 to now include CDR 0.5 to 2, and from excluding all epilepsy to including people with a single episode. Enrollment changed from 375 to 450, study duration changed from nine to 12 months, with a one-year open-label extension. This final protocol was published (Wischik et al., 2022).

According to a trade news report, the company announced top-line results in an October 2022 press release; however, this information is no longer available on the company web site. According to a company presentation at the December 2022 CTAD conference, the trial failed on both primary endpoints (Medscape). In July 2023, the company showed some biomarker results at the AAIC in Amsterdam. Plasma neurofilament light was shown to have increased in the Methylene Blue control group, but not in the treated group. NfL levels reportedly correlated with trends in plasma p-tau181.

For all clinical trials with TRx0237, see clinicaltrials.gov.

Clinical Trial Timeline

  • Phase 2
  • Phase 2/3
  • Phase 3
  • Study completed / Planned end date
  • Planned end date unavailable
  • Study aborted
Sponsor Clinical Trial 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
TauRx Therapeutics Ltd NCT01626391
N=9RESULTS
TauRx Therapeutics Ltd NCT01689233
N=500
TauRx Therapeutics Ltd NCT01689246
N=933
TauRx Therapeutics Ltd NCT01626378
N=180
TauRx Therapeutics Ltd NCT03446001
N=180

Last Updated: 23 Oct 2023

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References

News Citations

  1. Tau Inhibitor Fails Again—Subgroup Analysis Irks Clinicians at CTAD
  2. In First Phase 3 Trial, the Tau Drug LMTM Did Not Work. Period.
  3. First Round of FTD Therapeutics Fell Short, But Many More Are Up and Running
  4. Will Tau Drug Show Its True Colors in Phase 3 Trials?
  5. Does TauRx Drug Work by Oxidizing Tau?

Therapeutics Citations

  1. Rember TM

Paper Citations

  1. . Potential of Low Dose Leuco-Methylthioninium Bis(Hydromethanesulphonate) (LMTM) Monotherapy for Treatment of Mild Alzheimer's Disease: Cohort Analysis as Modified Primary Outcome in a Phase III Clinical Trial. J Alzheimers Dis. 2018;61(1):435-457. PubMed.
  2. . Efficacy and safety of tau-aggregation inhibitor therapy in patients with mild or moderate Alzheimer's disease: a randomised, controlled, double-blind, parallel-arm, phase 3 trial. Lancet. 2016 Dec 10;388(10062):2873-2884. Epub 2016 Nov 16 PubMed.
  3. . Selective inhibition of Alzheimer disease-like tau aggregation by phenothiazines. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1996 Oct 1;93(20):11213-8. PubMed.
  4. . Aminothienopyridazines and Methylene Blue Affect Tau Fibrillization via Cysteine Oxidation. J Biol Chem. 2013 Apr 19;288(16):11024-37. PubMed.
  5. . Methylthioninium chloride (methylene blue) induces autophagy and attenuates tauopathy in vitro and in vivo. Autophagy. 2012 Apr;8(4):609-22. PubMed.
  6. . Alternative mitochondrial electron transfer as a novel strategy for neuroprotection. J Biol Chem. 2011 May 6;286(18):16504-15. PubMed.
  7. . Methylene blue reduces aβ levels and rescues early cognitive deficit by increasing proteasome activity. Brain Pathol. 2011 Mar;21(2):140-9. PubMed.
  8. . Methylthioninium chloride reverses cognitive deficits induced by scopolamine: comparison with rivastigmine. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2009 Jan;202(1-3):53-65. PubMed.
  9. . Beneficial network effects of methylene blue in an amnestic model. Neuroimage. 2011 Feb 14;54(4):2623-34. PubMed.
  10. . Cysteine-Independent Inhibition of Alzheimer's Disease-like Paired Helical Filament Assembly by Leuco-Methylthioninium (LMT). J Mol Biol. 2018 Oct 19;430(21):4119-4131. Epub 2018 Aug 16 PubMed.
  11. . Binding of methylene blue to a surface cleft inhibits the oligomerization and fibrillization of prion protein. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2013 Jan;1832(1):20-8. Epub 2012 Sep 25 PubMed.
  12. . Phosphorylated and cleaved TDP-43 in ALS, FTLD and other neurodegenerative disorders and in cellular models of TDP-43 proteinopathy. Neuropathology. 2010 Apr;30(2):170-81. PubMed.
  13. . Methylene blue fails to inhibit Tau and polyglutamine protein dependent toxicity in zebrafish. Neurobiol Dis. 2010 Sep;39(3):265-71. PubMed.
  14. . A Protein Aggregation Inhibitor, Leuco-Methylthioninium Bis(Hydromethanesulfonate), Decreases α-Synuclein Inclusions in a Transgenic Mouse Model of Synucleinopathy. Front Mol Neurosci. 2017;10:447. Epub 2018 Jan 10 PubMed.

External Citations

  1. company press release
  2. Shiels et al., 2020
  3. Schelter et al., 2019
  4. Wischik et al., 2022
  5. trade news report
  6. Medscape
  7. clinicaltrials.gov
  8. Harrington et al., 2015
  9. Melis et al., 2015
  10. Kondak et al., 2023
  11. Riedel et al., 2020
  12. Kondak et al., 2022
  13. Santos et al., 2022
  14. Schwab et al., 2021
  15. Lim et al. 2023
  16. Schwab et al., 2022)
  17. Bentham et al., 2021

Further Reading

Papers

  1. . "Lest we forget you--methylene blue...". Neurobiol Aging. 2011 Dec;32(12):2325.e7-16. PubMed.
  2. . Neuroprotective actions of methylene blue and its derivatives. PLoS One. 2012;7(10):e48279. PubMed.
  3. . Methylene blue and dimebon inhibit aggregation of TDP-43 in cellular models. FEBS Lett. 2009 Jul 21;583(14):2419-24. PubMed.
  4. . Methylene blue induces macroautophagy through 5' adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase pathway to protect neurons from serum deprivation. Front Cell Neurosci. 2013 Jan 1;7:56. Epub 2013 May 3 PubMed.