Neuroinflammation is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), driven in part by chronic microglial activation and elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines, which contribute to neuronal damage and cognitive decline. Targeting microglial activity has emerged as a promising therapeutic approach.
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. has described macrophage colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R; CD115; c-Fms) inhibitors reported to be useful for diagnosis and treatment of pain, infections, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, cardiovascular disorders, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, among others.
Becoming the second drug approved by the U.S. FDA for tenosynovial giant cell tumors, Deciphera Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s oral CSF1R inhibitor vimseltinib, newly branded Romvimza, could take significant market share from a competitor in the same class. A phase III trial showed a higher objective response rate with Romvimza than a separate phase III trial showed with Daiichi Sankyo Co. Ltd.’s Turalio (pexidartinib), and the latter’s label contains a boxed warning on rare but serious and sometimes life-threatening liver side effects.
