The Generative Brain

Flupirtine in CJD (German phase 2)

German randomised double-blind trial of the painkiller flupirtine in 28 CJD patients, published in 2004: slower decline on a cognitive scale but no survival effect, and the drug never became standard care.

Status as of 2026-10-16. Please check the study registry for the latest position.

Key facts

  • Status: Completed; cognitive effect only.
  • Design: randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial in Germany with 28 patients, recruiting from 1997 to 2001 and published in Neurology in March 2004.
  • Result: slower decline on the ADAS-Cog cognitive scale (p about 0.02) and no survival effect.
  • Preclinical support: flupirtine had no cell or mouse data behind it before the trial.
  • Adoption: it never became standard care; later practice used it only for symptom control.
  • Context: one of four completed drug approaches (quinacrine, doxycycline, pentosan polysulphate, flupirtine), none of which extended survival.

Timeline

  1. 1997Recruitment begins.
  2. 2001Recruitment period ends.
  3. 2004Trial published in Neurology.
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