Citicoline in stroke and TBI clinical trials

What is it about?

This report explains the possible reasons for failure of CDP-choline (Citicoline) in stroke and TBI clinical trials. A thorough understanding of its biochemistry and metabolism is an important factor that should be taken into consideration in designing the clinical trials. Liposome formulation of this agent from various labs showed high efficacy compared to free drug in pre-clinical models.

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Why is it important?

CDP-choline (citicoline) has minimal safety concerns in the clinical trials of stroke and TBI compared many other agents. Clinical trial design need to keep this fact in consideration, along with metabolism (human vs rodents); administration time(s), in exploring new formulation of this agent that may provide benefit to CNS injury patients. Citicoline is an endogenous compound (non-xenobiotic). Unless new formulations are tested in clinical trials it may be inappropriate to call this agent ineffective or failed drug.