Memantine

Intervention Approved 2002

3 papers6 findings

C, W, M, H: cells, worms or flies, mice, humans. Dark: independent labs found the same change there. Light: one lab or one study. Outline: nothing yet.

Labs are independent when their papers share no last author and no institution.

Against: findings that point the other way from most findings on the same outcome.

On aging: the drug’s trials ARN judged to be about aging, of every trial that tests it for any use.

No results posted: trials that ended more than a year ago with no results on ClinicalTrials.gov and no paper in ARN’s record.

Company ties: findings with an author at a company, or from a paper whose competing-interests statement declares ties to one.

3 independent labs in 3 countries
1 on aging of 141 trials, 51 with no results posted

Funders: Copenhagen Graduate School for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology and others
49 of 141 trials sponsored by its developers

Humans1
Animals1
Model organisms1

Outcomes

Fatty acid β-oxidation

upin worms1

1 study

Memantine increases fatty acid β-oxidation in worms.
“while enhancing β-oxidation of fatty acids”
Model organisms
The NMDA Receptor Antagonist Memantine Modulates Aging and Stress Resilience
Aging cell28 Nov 2025

Associations

Mortality

downin humans1HR 0.78

1 study

Memantine lowers the risk of mortality in humans (HR 0.78, 95% CI 0.65-0.94).
“ME + displayed a 22% reduction (HR:0.78; 95%CI:0.65-0.94; p:0.007)”
Humanssevere dementiamean: 1.7 ± 0.3 yearsn = 215
Effectiveness of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and memantine in patients affected by severe dementia
GeroScience15 Dec 2025

Trials

1 on aging of 141

On aging

Escalating Doses of Memantine in Down Syndrome (MEDS-123)
Phase 1Not yet recruiting

Approved

EMA Ebixa
15 May 2002Alzheimer Disease, Moderate to Severe Alzheimer's Disease
EMA Axura
17 May 2002Alzheimer Disease, Moderate to Severe Alzheimer's Disease
FDA Namenda
16 Oct 2003DiscontinuedDementia
FDA Namenda
18 Apr 2005Discontinued
FDA Namenda XR
21 Jun 2010Discontinued
EMA Memantine Merz
22 Nov 2012Alzheimer Disease

All 12

EMA Memantine LEK
21 Apr 2013WithdrawnAlzheimer Disease
EMA Memantine Mylan
21 Apr 2013Alzheimer Disease
EMA Nemdatine
22 Apr 2013Alzheimer Disease
EMA Marixino (previously Maruxa)
28 Apr 2013Alzheimer Disease
EMA Memantine ratiopharm
12 Jun 2013Alzheimer Disease
EMA Memantine Accord
3 Dec 2013Alzheimer Disease

Repurposing

Obesity
Phase 4Completed2 trials
Stroke
Phase 4Status unknown1 trial
Depression
Phase 4Results posted8 trials
Parkinson's disease
Phase 4Results posted2 trials
Multiple sclerosis
Phase 4Results posted4 trials
Traumatic brain injury
Phase 4Terminated1 trial

40 of 49

Down syndrome
Phase 4Results posted2 trials
Major depressive disorder
Phase 4Results posted7 trials
Cognitive dysfunction
Phase 4Results posted11 trials
Schizophrenia
Phase 3Terminated3 trials
Bipolar disorder
Phase 4Results posted4 trials
Anxiety disorders
Phase 3Results posted2 trials
Melanoma
Phase 3Terminated1 trial
Frontotemporal dementia
Phase 4Results posted4 trials
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Phase 4Completed1 trial
Huntington's disease
Phase 4Results posted1 trial
Autism spectrum disorder
Phase 4Results posted6 trials
Depressive disorder
Phase 4Results posted2 trials
Lewy body disease
Phase 4Results posted2 trials
Substance-related disorders
Phase 3Completed2 trials
Frontotemporal lobar degeneration
Phase 4Completed1 trial
Renal cell carcinoma
Phase 3Terminated1 trial
Open-angle glaucoma
Phase 3Completed2 trials
Neoplasm metastasis
Phase 3Results posted2 trials
Binge eating disorder
Phase 4Completed1 trial
Generalized anxiety disorder
Phase 3Results posted1 trial
Alcoholism
Phase 4Completed2 trials
Aphasia
Phase 4Status unknown1 trial
Brain neoplasms
Phase 3Results posted8 trials
Essential tremor
Phase 4Completed1 trial
Gastrointestinal neoplasms
Phase 3Terminated1 trial
Lung neoplasm
Phase 3Terminated1 trial
Non small cell lung carcinoma
Phase 3Terminated1 trial
HIV infection
Phase 2Completed1 trial
Hepatocellular carcinoma
Phase 2/3Recruiting2 trials
Fibrosis
Phase 2/3Recruiting1 trial
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Phase 2/3Completed4 trials
Intellectual disability
Phase 2Results posted1 trial
Fatigue
Phase 2/3Completed1 trial
Systemic lupus erythematosus
Phase 2Completed1 trial

Every condition in trials

Psychomotor Agitation
Phase 4Completed3 trials
Amyloid plaque
Phase 4Results posted1 trial
Behavior
Phase 4Completed1 trial
Breast neoplasm
Phase 3Terminated2 trials
Cognition disorder
Phase 3Recruiting2 trials
Small cell lung carcinoma
Phase 3Terminated1 trial

All 17

Tension type headache
Phase 3Completed1 trial
Excoriation Disorder
Phase 2/3Active, not recruiting2 trials
Nerve Degeneration
Phase 2/3Status unknown2 trials
Opioid-Related Disorders
Phase 2/3Results posted2 trials
Trichotillomania
Phase 2/3Active, not recruiting2 trials
Autistic disorder
Phase 2Results posted5 trials
Asperger syndrome
Phase 2Results posted3 trials
Neuralgia
Phase 2Completed2 trials
Recurrence
Phase 2Terminated1 trial
Bioequivalence auc cmax pharmacokinetic
Phase 1Results posted1 trial
Sleep deprivation
Phase 1Completed1 trial

Stopped

NCT00649220TerminatedAlzheimer's disease
Study terminated due to too slow enrollment
NCT00462228TerminatedTraumatic brain injury
The study was stopped due to a lack of additional subjects.
NCT04588246TerminatedBrain neoplasms
Inadequate accrual rate
NCT01592773TerminatedAutistic disorder
Terminated because primary efficacy parameter failed to demonstrate statistically significant difference between memantine and placebo in controlled trials
NCT02234752TerminatedPsychotic disorders
Funding no longer available and PI no longer working at the institution