A Study to Explore the Safety and Tolerability of Acthar in Patients With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis



Status:Completed
Conditions:Neurology, Neurology, Neurology
Therapuetic Areas:Neurology
Healthy:No
Age Range:18 - 80
Updated:3/1/2014
Start Date:July 2013
End Date:October 2014
Contact:Shanique Smythe, MS
Phone:(443) 973-2012

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This 8-week randomized, open-label evaluation will examine the acute safety and tolerability
of 4 different dosing regimens of Acthar to inform dose selection for future studies of
Acthar in patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). The study will also
investigate the mean rate of change in the ALSFRS-R total score as an exploratory endpoint
to help design future studies.

This study will enroll up to 40 patients and include an optional 28-week open-label
extension period plus a 3-week treatment taper and 1-week follow up period. After
completion of Week 8, patients enrolled in a treatment group that is considered safe and
tolerable at that time have the option to continue into the open-label extension period. A
3-week treatment taper and a follow-up visit are planned for all patients enrolled in the
study, beginning either at Week 8 or at Week 36 if a patient continues into the optional
open-label extension period.


Inclusion Criteria:

- Able to provide informed consent.

- Diagnosis of clinically definite ALS, clinically probable-laboratory supported ALS,
clinically probable ALS, or clinically possible ALS based on the revised El Escorial
criteria.

- Patients with ALS ≤ 3 years since symptom onset. Symptom onset is defined as date of
first muscle weakness or dysarthria.

- Upright slow vital capacity (SVC)≥ 60% of predicted.

- If taking riluzole and/or Nuedexta®, stable regimen is required for ≥ 30 days prior
to screening.

- Medically (either independently or with caregiver assistance) able to comply with
study procedures, including subcutaneous (SC) injections of study medication and
adherence to concomitant medication restrictions.

Exclusion Criteria:

- Any medical condition known to have an association with motor neuron dysfunction
which might confound or obscure the diagnosis of ALS.

- Tracheostomy, diaphragm pacing, or ongoing need for assisted ventilation of any type
(e.g., bilevel positive airway pressure) for treatment of ALS-related respiratory
dysfunction (vital capacity of < 60% predicted, nocturnal desaturation, and/or
nocturnal hypoventilation). Patients on assisted ventilation for other reasons
require approval from the Medical Monitor. (Supplemental oxygen is acceptable).

- Recorded diagnosis or evidence of major psychiatric disorder.

- Clinically evident cognitive and/or behavioral impairment that in the opinion of the
Investigator would impair the ability of the patient to comply with the study
procedures.

- Therapies and/or Medications:

1. History of prior sensitivity to Acthar or other porcine protein products.

2. Chronic systemic corticosteroid use, defined as > 20 mg of prednisone or
equivalent systemic corticosteroid taken for more than 4 consecutive weeks
within 6 months prior to randomization. Topical, inhaled, or intra-articular
corticosteroids are allowed.

3. Planned treatment with live or live attenuated vaccines once enrolled in the
study.

- Participation in another therapeutic (drug or device) investigational study within 30
days prior to screening.

- Type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus, or patients currently taking hypoglycemic
medication.

- Contraindication per Acthar Prescribing Information, Appendix D Section 4:
scleroderma, osteoporosis, systemic fungal infections, ocular herpes simplex, recent
surgery, history of or the presence of peptic ulcer, congestive heart failure,
uncontrolled hypertension, primary adrenocortical insufficiency, or adrenal cortical
hyperfunction.

1. For the purposes of this study, osteoporosis is defined as a history of a lumbar
spine and/or femoral neck T-score ≤ -2.5 on bone densitometry (DXA), OR
osteoporosis requiring pharmacologic therapy, OR a history of non-traumatic low
impact hip or vertebral fracture, OR patient reported history of osteoporosis.

2. For the purposes of this study, history of peptic ulcer is defined as ≤ 6 months
prior to screening.

3. For the purposes of this study, uncontrolled hypertension is defined as mean
systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg on ≥ 3
seated readings taken at least 5 minutes apart during the screening period.

4. For the purposes of this study, congestive heart failure is defined as New York
Heart Association Functional Class III-IV.
We found this trial at
17
sites
Jacksonville, Florida 32224
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Jacksonville, FL
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Atlanta, Georgia 30322
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Atlanta, GA
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Birmingham, Alabama 35233
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Birmingham, AL
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Dallas, Texas 75214
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Dallas, TX
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Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033
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Hershey, PA
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Houston, Texas 77030
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Houston, TX
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Kansas City, Kansas 66160
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Kansas City, KS
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Lincoln, Nebraska 68506
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Lincoln, NE
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Memphis, Tennessee 38104
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Memphis, TN
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Miami, Florida 33136
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Miami, FL
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Phoenix, Arizona 85018
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Phoenix, AZ
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Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15212
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Pittsburgh, PA
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Rochester, Minnesota 55905
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Rochester, MN
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San Antonio, Texas 78229
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San Antonio, TX
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San Francisco, California 94115
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San Francisco, CA
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Stanford, California 94305
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Stanford, CA
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Tampa, Florida 33612
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Tampa, FL
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