A Phase 1 interventional study of BNC and Placebo in Healthy Volunteers, sponsored by National Institute on Aging (NIA). Completed at 2 sites in United States. Open to participants aged 55 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-10-02.
Sponsored by National Institute on Aging (NIA) · Phase 1, Interventional, and Treatment
Background:
- Alzheimer s disease (AD) is a brain disease that impairs memory, cognitive abilities and the ability to function independently. It is the most common cause of dementia in older people. It is caused by abnormal proteins in the brain that affect how neurons communicate with each other. Researchers are looking for drugs that can slow down the disease or treat its symptoms. One drug, called bisnorcymserine (BNC), may help improve brain function and symptoms in people with AD. BNC is designed to block a chemical that affects how neurons communicate with each other. Researchers want to see how BNC works in healthy older volunteers.
Objectives:
- To look at how the body processes bisnorcymserine taken by mouth and how safe it is for healthy older volunteers.
Eligibility:
- Healthy volunteers at least 55 years of age.
Design:
Objective: Alzheimer s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that impairs memory and other cognitive abilities, as well as behavior and the ability to function independently. It is the most common cause of dementia among older people. Alzheimer s disease is characterized by deficits in several neurotransmitter systems, most prominently acetylcholine (Ach). The cholinergic deficit in the AD brain is associated with the cognitive and functional symptoms in AD. Restoring this deficit in the cholinergic system is one proven approach for symptomatic treatment in AD. The action of Ach in the brain is terminated mainly by two enzymes called cholinesterases (ChEs): acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). Inhibitors of these enzymes therefore augment the activity of surviving Ach neurons in AD. All ChEs inhibitors currently approved for the treatment of AD mainly inhibit AChE and, secondarily and to a varying extent, BChE. Reversible and brain-specific BChE inhibitors have been developed as a class of drugs called cymserine analogs. Scientists at the NIA/NIH have developed a novel BChE inhibitor called Bisnorcymserine (BNC). Pre-clinical evidence suggests that BNC may be a safe treatment for Alzheimer s disease. Based on this, we propose this first-in-human study to evaluate the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of single doses of BNC tartrate administered orally.
Study population: Healthy volunteers aged 55 years and older.
Design: Double blind placebo-controlled Phase I clinical Trial of single oral doses of BNC doses in an ascending schedule: 20, 40mg, 80 mg, 120 mg, 160 mg, 270 mg and 380 mg. Each dose will be tested in groups of 8 subjects. Six subjects in each cohort will receive active drug and two will receive placebo. Subjects will be kept in the unit and followed clinically and with laboratory tests for adverse effects for 32 hours; they will return for a follow-up visit to assess safety in about 7 days. A Data Safety Monitoring Board will evaluate the safety and tolerability associated with each dose level before the next higher dose is tested in a new cohort. All research will be performed at the National Institute on Aging (NIA) Clinical Research Unit located on the 5th floor of MedStar Harbor Hospital.
3,678 studies on the registry are indexed under Alzheimer Disease; 872 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 75 is close to the median of 70 across 2,808 interventional studies indexed under Alzheimer Disease.
Browse Alzheimer Disease studies →National Institute on Aging (NIA) is the lead sponsor of 157 studies on the registry; 13 are open to participants now.
Of its 7 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 2 (29%) have results posted.
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EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
Any clinically significant laboratory abnormality. These include:
Medications that are excluded are:
Bisnorcymserine tartrate
Drug: BNC
microcrystalline celluose
Other: Placebo
Microcrystalline cellulose fiber
Safety and Tolerability
Safety and tolerability will be determined based on the frequency of AEs of any grade in BNC and placebo groups. AEs will be determined based on clinical symptoms and signs, vital signs, safety laboratory tests, EKG and continuous cardiac monitoring, MMSE, and C-SSRS.
Time frame: Will be completed in one year
pharmacokinetic profile (parameters)
The pharmacokinetic profile of a single oral dose of BNC in a capsule will be determined, including evaluation of AUC, Tmax, Cmax, elimination rate constant, T1/2, clearance and volume of distribution. In addition, we will measure pharmacodynamics parameters, including acetyl-cholinesterase and butyryl-cholinesterase activity
Time frame: Will be completed in one year
Plan to share: Undecided — There is ongoing discussion within the NIA IRP and a plan has not been finalized yet.
This study is completed, as verified in Mar 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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National Institute on Aging (NIA)