Deferiprone in Alzheimer Disease
Authors: Ayton Scott , Barton David , Brew Bruce , Brodtmann Amy , Clarnette Roger , Desmond Patricia , Devos David , Ellis Kathryn A. , Fazlollahi Amir , Fradette Caroline , Goh Anita M. Y. , Kalinowski Pawel , Kyndt Christopher , Lai Rosalyn , Lim Yen Ying , Maruff Paul , O’Brien Terence J. , Rowe Christopher , Salvado Olivier , Schofield Peter W. , Spino Michael , Tricta Fernando , Wagen Aaron , Williams Robert , Woodward Michael , Bush Ashley I. 
Published: November 2024

Importance

Interventions that substantially slow neurodegeneration are needed to address the growing burden of Alzheimer disease (AD) to societies worldwide. Elevated brain iron observed in AD has been associated with accelerated cognitive decline and may be a tractable drug target.

Objective

To investigate whether the brain-permeable iron chelator deferiprone slows cognitive decline in people with AD.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This phase 2, double-masked, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial of 12-month duration was conducted at 9 sites in Australia between August 2, 2018, and April 1, 2023. Patients older than 54 years with amyloid-confirmed mild cognitive impairment or early AD (a Mini-Mental State Examination score of 20 or higher) were screened. Randomization was 2:1 and masked to participants and all study staff.

Interventions

Deferiprone 15 mg/kg twice a day or placebo administered orally for 12 months.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome was a composite cognitive measure assessed at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months using a neuropsychological test battery (NTB) of memory, executive function, and attention tasks. Secondary outcomes included change in brain iron burden measured by quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) magnetic resonance imaging (target engagement), brain volume changes (secondary efficacy measure), and adverse events (safety analysis).

Results

Of 167 patients screened for eligibility, 81 were included, with 53 randomly assigned to the deferiprone group (mean [SD] age, 73.0 [8.0] years; 29 male [54.7%]) and 28 to the placebo group (mean [SD] age, 71.6 [7.2] years; 17 male [60.7%]); 54 participants completed the study (7 [25.0%] withdrew from the placebo group and 20 [37.7%] from the deferiprone group). In an intention-to-treat analysis, participants in the deferiprone group showed accelerated cognitive decline on the NTB primary outcome (β for interaction = −0.50; 95% CI, −0.80 to −0.20) compared with placebo (change in NTB composite z score for deferiprone, −0.80 [95% CI, −0.98 to −0.62]; for placebo, −0.30 [95% CI, −0.54 to −0.06]). Secondary analysis revealed that this result was driven by worsening performance on executive function tests. The QSM confirmed that deferiprone decreased iron in the hippocampus compared with placebo (change in hippocampal QSM for deferiprone, −0.36 ppb [95% CI, −0.76 to 0.04 ppb]; for placebo, 0.32 ppb [95% CI, −0.12 to 0.75 ppb]; β for interaction = −0.68 [95% CI, −1.27 to −0.09]). Longitudinal hippocampal volume loss was not affected by deferiprone, but exploratory analysis of other brain regions revealed increased volume loss with deferiprone in frontal areas. The frequency of the adverse effect of neutropenia (4 participants [7.5%] in the deferiprone group) was higher than in similar studies (1.6%-4.4%).

Conclusions

These trial findings show that deferiprone 15 mg/kg twice a day decreased hippocampal QSM and accelerated cognitive decline in patients with amyloid-confirmed early AD, suggesting that lowering iron with deferiprone is detrimental to patients with AD.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03234686