Forest Laboratories to discontinue NAMENDA tablets

Forest has notified the US Food and Drug Administration of this decision. The oral solution of NAMENDA and once-daily NAMENDA XR (memantine HCl) extended-release capsules will continue to be available.

Both NAMENDA and NAMENDA XR are indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe Alzheimer’s disease.

Forest chief medical officer and drug development and research executive vice president Dr Marco Taglietti noted NAMENDA XR offers important benefits, including convenient, once-daily dosing, which is particularly meaningful for this patient population and their caregivers.

"Our decision to focus on NAMENDA XR is supported by these benefits as well as the positive feedback we’ve received from physicians and caregivers since the launch of NAMENDA XR. The conversion also allows us to streamline our resources and explore innovative new compounds that may be effective for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, including the fixed-dose combination of NAMENDA XR and donepezil, which is under development.

"Forest has provided effective treatments and education to the Alzheimer’s community for the past decade, and we remain fully committed to delivering products that can improve the lives of patients and their loved ones," Dr Taglietti added.

Importantly, physicians can switch patients from NAMENDA to NAMENDA XR the very next day without titration, as outlined in the FDA-approved package insert. In addition to its convenient dosing, NAMENDA XR capsules can be opened and the contents sprinkled on applesauce for patients who have difficulty swallowing pills.

Forest sponsored a third-party survey that included 250 physicians treating Alzheimer’s patients and 250 caregivers of Alzheimer’s patients. Physicians surveyed responded that NAMENDA XR once daily administration was important in their decision to prescribe the medication. Also, a majority of caregivers responded that they were satisfied with the once daily dosing of NAMENDA XR.