What is "idebenone"

n. A drug developed to treat Alzheimer's disease and other cognitive defects, but now being investigated for treatment of neuromuscular diseases.

Idebenone (pronounced eye-deb-eh-known, trade names Catena, Raxone, Sovrima, among others) is a drug that was initially developed by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and other cognitive defects. This has been met with limited success. The Swiss company Santhera Pharmaceuticals has started to investigate it for the treatment of neuromuscular diseases. In 2010, early clinical trials for the treatment of Friedreich's ataxia and Duchenne muscular dystrophy have been completed. the drug is not approved for these indications in North America or Europe, but it is approved for the treatment of Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) in Europe.

Chemically, idebenone is an organic compound of the quinone family. It is also promoted commercially as a synthetic analog of coenzyme Q (CoQ).