Long-acting brexpiprazole for agitation in Alzheimer’s disease dementia
Official title: Long-acting Injectable Brexpiprazole for Agitation in Alzheimer's Dementia
Funded at Auritec Pharmaceuticals, INC. · NIH-11410220 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A long-acting injectable form of brexpiprazole is being developed to help reduce agitation in people with Alzheimer’s disease dementia, with potential uses in schizophrenia and major depressive disorder.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Auritec Pharmaceuticals, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pasadena, United States) |
| Project start | September 22, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,029,519 |
| NIH project number | 1R44AG102256-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11410220 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with agitation associated with Alzheimer’s disease dementia who may benefit from a long-acting antipsychotic intervention and can tolerate subcutaneous injections.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without Alzheimer’s disease dementia-related agitation or those unable to receive injectable therapies may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to create a monthly injectable version of brexpiprazole to improve adherence and reduce agitation in patients with Alzheimer’s disease dementia. The team has shown proof-of-concept in macaque studies and uses pharmacokinetic modeling to support once-monthly dosing that mirrors effective oral levels. The work leverages Auritec’s Plexis technology to achieve sustained drug release while monitoring safety and tolerability. If successful, the treatment could lessen hospitalizations and improve daily functioning for people living with Alzheimer’s-related agitation and potentially benefit other neuropsychiatric conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with Alzheimer’s-related agitation could experience steadier symptom control and fewer hospitalizations due to better treatment adherence.
How similar studies have gone: Previous long-acting injectables have improved adherence and outcomes in other chronic conditions, supporting potential benefit in neuropsychiatric conditions.
Where this research is happening
-
Auritec Pharmaceuticals, INC.
Pasadena, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Smith, Thomas J. — Auritec Pharmaceuticals, INC.
- Study coordinator: Smith, Thomas J.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Investigating how DNA damage and repair mechanisms are altered in ALS and frontotemporal dementia.
This study is looking at how problems with DNA repair might contribute to conditions like ALS and frontotemporal dementia, and it’s testing ways to fix these issues in cells from patients to help develop new treatments.
-
Synthetic protein mimetics to treat Lewy Body Dementia
A new therapeutic approach using engineered protein-like molecules to block the harmful protein clumps that cause Lewy Body Dementia.
-
Dementia care staff study: adapting a US survey for use in many countries
A study is adapting and testing a survey for dementia care workers in the US, Brazil, Switzerland, and Ghana to help understand why workers stay in their jobs and how to improve care.
-
Dementia care staff study: adapting a survey for use in many countries
A multinational study will adapt and test a U.S. dementia-care worker survey in Brazil, Switzerland, and Ghana to help understand why staff stay in or leave long-term care settings.
-
Study of Dementia Care Staff in 4 Countries: Adapting Caregiver Surveys Across Cultures
A multinational project will adapt and test a dementia care worker survey so researchers can compare care environments across the US, Brazil, Switzerland, and Ghana.
-
New biomarkers to distinguish LATE from Alzheimer’s disease in dementia
A study to develop blood and CSF tests that can tell apart LATE from Alzheimer’s disease in people with dementia.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.