Zunveyl Now Available for Mild to Moderate Alzheimer Disease

Zunveyl^® (benzgalantamine) is now available for the treatment of mild to moderate dementia of the Alzheimer type in adults.

The active ingredient in Zunveyl is benzgalantamine, a prodrug of galantamine, a competitive and reversible inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase. The approval was based on 3 bioavailability studies in healthy adults comparing galantamine immediate-release tablets and galantamine extended-release capsules to Zunveyl. 

According to Alpha Cognition, Zunveyl was designed to eliminate drug absorption in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, thereby addressing potential tolerability issues with other acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. Commonly noted GI side effects with galantamine include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and decreased appetite. Across all studies of Zunveyl, GI adverse events were reported in less than 2% of patients.

Zunveyl is supplied as 5mg, 10mg, and 15mg delayed-release tablets, which can be taken with or without food. Tablets should be swallowed whole. 

The recommended starting dosage is 5mg orally twice daily, which is then increased to 10mg twice daily (initial maintenance dosage) after a minimum of 4 weeks based on clinical response and tolerability. After a minimum of 4 weeks at 10mg twice daily, the dosage may be increased to the maximum recommended dosage of 15mg twice daily. 

Dosage adjustment is recommended for patients with moderate hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh score 7-9) or moderate renal impairment (CrCl 9-59mL/min). Zunveyl is not recommended for patients with severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh score of 10-15) or severe renal impairment (CrCl <9mL/min).

This article originally appeared on MPR