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In a Newly Published Study More Alzheimer''s Disease Patients Were Able To Benefit From ARICEPT(R) (donepezil HCl tablets) Treatment Than Exelon(R) (rivastigmine tartrate); One of Two Head-to-Head Studies Comparing ARICEPT(R) With Another Approved Alzheimer''s Disease Treatment.

Article Excerpt
NEW YORK -- Newly published results from the first head-to-head study between ARICEPT(R) (donepezil HCl tablets) and Exelon(R) (rivastigmine tartrate) demonstrated that ARICEPT(R) was better tolerated than Exelon(R) in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD), allowing more patients on ARICEPT(R) to benefit from treatment. Almost twice as many patients were able to remain at the maximum effective daily dose of ARICEPT(R) (88 percent vs. 47 percent) due to a lower occurrence of treatment-related side effects. Furthermore, when surveyed, physicians and caregivers significantly favored ARICEPT(R) versus Exelon(R) with respect to satisfaction and ease of use. Findings from this study are published in the July issue of the peer-reviewed journal, International Journal of Clinical Practice.

"It is important to use effective medications that are well tolerated and easy to use, such as ARICEPT(R), so that Alzheimer's patients can remain on therapy and sustain the maximum benefit possible over time," said study investigator David Wilkinson, MD, director of the Memory Assessment and Research Centre, Moorgreen Hospital, Southampton University, Southampton, England. "Publication of these data provides physicians with very practical clinical information regarding the tolerability and safety of two of the available AD treatments to help them prescribe the most appropriate therapy for their patients."

The multinational, randomized, head-to-head, open-label study was designed to compare the tolerability, safety, and ease of use of ARICEPT(R) to Exelon(R) in 111 patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. The secondary endpoint assessed cognition.

Key study findings: Safety and Tolerability * Overall, ARICEPT(R) was better...