Idebenone

Idebenone, initially developed by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company for Alzheimer's treatment with limited success, is under investigation by Santhera Pharmaceuticals for potential use in neuromuscular diseases. Despite completing early clinical trials for Friedreich's ataxia and Duchenne muscular dystrophy in 2010, it is not approved for these indications in North America or Europe as of December 2013. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved idebenone for Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) and designated it an orphan drug in 2007. Classified as a quinone and promoted as a synthetic analog of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), idebenone showed improved learning and memory in mouse experiments. However, human studies lack larger endpoints and research on its inconsistent potential for Alzheimer's treatment led to its approval cancellation in Japan in 1998. Although available in some European countries for specific cases, idebenone's use is not recommended for consumption and is likely advisable only for topical applications, particularly in anti-aging and wrinkle treatments, where clinical evidence is still lacking.