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Namenda/Memantine
Memantine is an uncompetitive antagonist of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor that blocks excessive glutamate signaling in the brain.
Memantine is an uncompetitive antagonist of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor that blocks excessive glutamate signaling in the brain. Used for Moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease.
At a glance
| Generic name | Namenda/Memantine |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | State University of New York - Upstate Medical University |
| Drug class | NMDA receptor antagonist |
| Target | NMDA receptor |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Neurology |
| Phase | Phase 3 |
Mechanism of action
Memantine selectively blocks NMDA receptor channels in a use-dependent manner, reducing pathological calcium influx caused by chronic glutamate excitotoxicity while preserving normal synaptic transmission. This mechanism is thought to slow neuronal degeneration in Alzheimer's disease by protecting against excitotoxic damage without completely blocking physiological NMDA receptor function.
Approved indications
- Moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease
Common side effects
- Dizziness
- Confusion
- Headache
- Constipation
- Hypertension
Key clinical trials
- Memantine +/- Raloxifene for Cognitive Preservation After Radiation Therapy to the Brain (PHASE2)
- Motor Neurone Disease - Systematic Multi-Arm Adaptive Randomised Trial (PHASE2, PHASE3)
- Pattern Separation in Major Depressive Disorder (PHASE1)
- Targeting Spreading Depolarization After Chronic Subdural Hematoma Surgery (TASD) (EARLY_PHASE1)
- Memantine for the Treatment of Social Deficits in Youth With Disorders of Impaired Social Interactions (PHASE3)
- Memory Avoidance Whole Brain Radiotherapy vs Hippocampal Avoidance Whole Brain Radiotherapy (Athena 2 Trial) (PHASE2)
- Satisfaction With Orodispersible vs Conventional Memantine in Moderate to Severe Alzheimer's Disease (PHASE4)
- Memantine for the Treatment of Cognitive Impairment in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (PHASE2)
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- Namenda/Memantine CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Namenda/Memantine updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- State University of New York - Upstate Medical University portfolio CI