By Colin Kellaher

Cerevel Therapeutics Holdings Inc. on Tuesday said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted fast-track designation to CVL-871, in development for the treatment of dementia-related apathy.

The Cambridge, Mass., company, which is focused on neuroscience diseases, said it plans to initiate screening in a Phase 2a exploratory trial in dementia-related apathy in the next few weeks, with data expected in the second half of 2022.

The FDA's fast-track program is designed to facilitate the development and expedite the review of treatments for serious or potentially life-threatening illnesses with high unmet medical needs.

Cerevel said CVL-871 could be a potential treatment to address the symptoms represented by dementia-related apathy, such as social disengagement, diminished initiative and interest, and loss of emotion.

Write to Colin Kellaher at colin.kellaher@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

June 15, 2021 07:34 ET (11:34 GMT)