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A Comparative Phase 2 Study Assessing the Efficacy of Triheptanoin, an Anaplerotic Therapy in Huntington's Disease

Phase 2
Completed
Conditions
Huntington Disease
Interventions
Registration Number
NCT02453061
Lead Sponsor
Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale, France
Brief Summary

In the study the investigators plan to include 100 early affected HD patients (5 ≤ UHDRS ≤ 40) in a randomized, double-blind, controlled study in 2 centers (France and the Netherlands). Patients will receive either triheptanoin at 1g/kg of body weight per day (n = 50), or a control oil (n = 50) at 1g/kg of body weight per day for 6 months followed by an open label phase using triheptanoin for another 6 months. Efficacy of triheptanoin will be evaluated by measurements of caudate volume using volumetric magnetic resonance imaging. Clinical improvement will be evaluated by brain energy metabolism quantification as evaluated by the ratio of inorganic phosphate/phosphocreatine, during visual stimulation, using 31P-MRS, UHDRS, TFC, and PBA-S scores as well as performance on the neuropsychological battery. Patient quality of life will be evaluated with the SF-36 questionnaire before and after treatment; biological tolerance and compliance will be evaluated by routine biochemical blood tests, plasma and urine measurements of triheptanoin oil derivatives and patient report.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
100
Inclusion Criteria
  • Positive genetic test with CAG repeat length ≥39 in HTT gene
  • At least 18 years of age
  • Signature of informed consent
  • Covered by social security
  • UHDRS score between 5 and 40
  • Ability to undergo MRI scanning
  • BMI between 18 and 30
Exclusion Criteria
  • Hypersensitivity to triheptanoin or to one of its excipients
  • Additional major comorbidities
  • History of severe head injury
  • Participation in another therapeutic trial (3 month exclusion period)
  • For women of childbearing age, the absence of two forms of effective contraception (with the exception of those who are abstinent)
  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding
  • Inability to understand information about the protocol
  • Persons deprived of their liberty by judicial or administrative decision
  • Adult subject under legal protection or unable to consent
  • Treatment with tetrabenazine

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Placebo groupPlaceboSubjects will receive safflower oil at 1g/kg/day for 6 months (months 0 - 6) and triheptanoin oil at 1g/kg/day for 6 months (months 7 - 12)
Triheptanoin groupTriheptanoin oilSubjects will receive triheptanoin oil at 1g/kg/day for 6 months (months 0 - 6) and triheptanoin oil at 1g/kg/day for 6 months (months 7 - 12)
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
volumetric magnetic resonance imaging6 months

A decrease in the rate of caudate atrophy, using volumetric MRI

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
31- Phosphorus Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy3 months

An increase in the index of brain energy restoration - as defined by the difference between Pi/PCr ration during visual stimulation and the mean of the Pi/PCr ratio during rest and recovery - using 31P-MRS

Patient autonomy after 6 months6 months

Stability of the Total Functional Capacity (TFC) after 6 months of treatment

Sustained restoration of brain energy metabolism after 12 months12 months

Sustained restoration of brain energy metabolism using 31P-MRS after 12 months of treatment

Caudal Atrophy12 months

Rate of caudate atrophy, using volumetric MRI

Patient autonomy after 12 months12 months

Stability of the Total Functional Capacity (TFC) after 12 months of treatment

Sustained restoration of brain energy metabolism after 6 months6 months

Sustained restoration of brain energy metabolism using 31P-MRS after 6 months of treatment

Trail making test after 12 months12 months

The benefit of triheptanoin on cognitive function will be evaluated after 12 months using a neuropsychological battery including the Trail making test, a test to evaluate mental flexibility

Digit span test after 6 months6 months

The benefit of triheptanoin on cognitive function will be evaluated after 6 months using a neuropsychological battery including the Digit span test, a test evaluating attention and working memory

motor function after 6 months6 months

Decrease in the progression of the UHDRS United Huntington's Disease Rating Scale after 6 months of treatment

motor function after 12 months12 months

Decrease in the progression of the UHDRS United Huntington's Disease Rating Scale after 12 months of treatment

Symbol Digit Modalities Test after 6 months6 months

The benefit of triheptanoin on cognitive function will be evaluated after 6 months using a neuropsychological battery including the SDMT (Symbol Digit Modalities Test), a test of visuomotor coordination

Digit span test after 12 months12 months

The benefit of triheptanoin on cognitive function will be evaluated after 12 months using a neuropsychological battery including the Digit span test, a test evaluating attention and working memory

patients' daily life6 months

The global impact of triheptanoin on patients' daily life will be evaluated at the end of the blinded treatment period using qualitative research methods. To statistically test whether experts classify treated and not treated patients better than could be expected by chance, a permutation test based on a modified version of Fisher's Lady tasting tea procedure will be used (Fischer 1935).

quality of life questionnaire after 6 months6 months

A standardized quality of life questionnaire, the Short Form-36 Health Survey, will be used after 6 months

quality of life questionnaire after 12 months12 months

A standardized quality of life questionnaire, the Short Form-36 Health Survey, will be used after 12 months

Symbol Digit Modalities Test after 12 months12 months

The benefit of triheptanoin on cognitive function will be evaluated after 12 months using a neuropsychological battery including the SDMT (Symbol Digit Modalities Test), a test of visuomotor coordination

Stroop test after 6 months6 months

The benefit of triheptanoin on cognitive function will be evaluated after 6 months using a neuropsychological battery including the Stroop test, a test evaluating concentration and capacity for inhibition

Trail making test after 6 months6 months

The benefit of triheptanoin on cognitive function will be evaluated after 6 months using a neuropsychological battery including the Trail making test, a test to evaluate mental flexibility

Stroop test after 12 months12 months

The benefit of triheptanoin on cognitive function will be evaluated after 12 months using a neuropsychological battery including the Stroop test, a test evaluating concentration and capacity for inhibition

psychiatric symptoms after 3 months3 months

The effect of triheptanoin on psychiatric symptoms will be evaluated after 3 months with the PBA-S, an evaluation of problem behaviors associated with HD

psychiatric symptoms after 6 months6 months

The effect of triheptanoin on psychiatric symptoms will be evaluated after 6 months with the PBA-S, an evaluation of problem behaviors associated with HD

psychiatric symptoms after 9 months9 months

The effect of triheptanoin on psychiatric symptoms will be evaluated after 9 months with the PBA-S, an evaluation of problem behaviors associated with HD

psychiatric symptoms after 12 months12 months

The effect of triheptanoin on psychiatric symptoms will be evaluated after 12 months with the PBA-S, an evaluation of problem behaviors associated with HD

Number of adverse events12 months

Safety of triheptanoin will be evaluated based on review of adverse events

clinical exam for Long term tolerance12 months

Long-term tolerance will be confirmed by clinical exam at study visits

home nurse visits for Long term tolerance12 months

Long-term tolerance will be confirmed by patient report during home nurse visits

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

Département de Génétique

🇫🇷

Paris, France

Department of Neurology

🇳🇱

Leiden, Netherlands

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