Cognition Therapeutics (NASDAQ:CGTX) announced on January 6, 2026, the publication of peer-reviewed results from its Phase 2 SHIMMER study in the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia.
The study demonstrated that zervimesine (CT1812), an oral small-molecule sigma-2 receptor antagonist, was safe, well-tolerated, and produced significant clinical improvements in patients with mild-to-moderate dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB).
DLB is the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer’s, characterized by the buildup of alpha-synuclein protein clumps (Lewy bodies) that damage brain synapses.
Zervimesine is designed to displace these toxic protein oligomers from synaptic receptors, effectively "shielding" the neurons from further damage.
In the SHIMMER trial (n=130), zervimesine-treated patients showed a 91% reduction in cognitive fluctuations—a hallmark and often debilitating symptom of DLB where patients alternate between lucidity and a state of non-responsiveness.
The data also revealed a robust 86% improvement in neuropsychiatric symptoms, including a reduction in hallucinations and delusions, which often lead to high caregiver distress.
Functional outcomes were equally strong, with treated patients preserving 52% more of their ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs) such as dressing and bathing compared to the placebo group.
Following these results, Cognition Therapeutics has scheduled a Type C meeting with the FDA for late January 2026 to align on the design of a Phase 3 registrational program.