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Diaphragm Pacing System (DPS) In Participants With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

Phase 2
Completed
Conditions
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
Interventions
Device: NeuRx® Diaphragm Pacing System™ (DPS)
Registration Number
NCT01938495
Lead Sponsor
Barrow Neurological Institute
Brief Summary

The study is being conducted to determine if DPS treatment for people with ALS and hypoventilation is associated with improved survival or diaphragm function.

The primary objective of the study is to conduct a multi-center, randomized controlled clinical trial comparing standard of care (control) to diaphragm stimulator treatment with the NeuRx® Diaphragm Pacing System™ (DPS) with respect to survival.

The secondary objective of the study is to conduct a multi-center, randomized controlled clinical trial to compare standard of care treatment (control) to DPS in ALS subjects with hypoventilation.

Detailed Description

The study is a randomized controlled study to compare standard of care (control) to DPS (diaphragm stimulator named The NeuRx® Diaphragm Pacing System™). Although it remains uncertain if DPS is efficacious for the ALS subject, given the preliminary studies performed by the device manufacturer, it has received FDA humanitarian device exemption (HDE) approval as a humanitarian use device (HUD). This study will utilize a 2:1 randomization schedule such that eligible ALS subjects will have a 2/3 chance of receiving DPS and 1/3 chance of standard of care (control) treatment.

The NeuRx® Diaphragm Pacing System™ (DPS) is a four channel, implanted percutaneous diaphragm muscle stimulation system. Under general anesthesia, the intramuscular electrodes are laparoscopically implanted in the diaphragm. The ends of the implanted electrodes are tunneled subcutaneously to an exit site on the chest or abdominal wall and connected to an external stimulator.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
52
Inclusion Criteria
  1. Age 21 years or older.

  2. Sporadic or familial ALS diagnosed as definite, probable or possible ALS as defined by revised El Escorial criteria.

  3. Evidence of hypoventilation at Screening with at least one of the following:

    1. Maximal static inspiratory pressure (MIP) <60 cm H20.
    2. Upright or supine forced vital capacity (FVC) <50% predicted for gender, age, and height.
  4. A phrenic nerve potential should be recordable bilaterally.

  5. Subjects must not have taken riluzole for at least 30 days, or be on a stable dose of riluzole for at least 30 days, prior to randomization (riluzole-naïve subjects are permitted in the study).

  6. Capable of providing informed consent and following trial procedures.

  7. Geographically accessible to the site.

  8. Negative urine pregnancy test at Screening in women of child bearing potential (WOCBP). (Women who are post-menopausal or who have had a hysterectomy are deemed not of child bearing potential).

  9. Women of child bearing potential must use an adequate form of contraception: abstinence, hormonal contraception (oral contraception, implanted contraception, injected contraception or other hormonal (patch or contraceptive ring, for example) contraception), intrauterine device (IUD) in place for ≥ 3 months, barrier method in conjunction with spermicide, or another adequate method.

Exclusion Criteria
  1. Upright forced vital capacity (FVC) ≤ 45% of predicted for gender, age, and height.
  2. Any prior use of non-invasive ventilation (NIV) outside of sleep (nighttime or naps).
  3. Any pulmonary or cardiac disorder or other medical disorder that would be a contraindication for general anesthesia or DPS hardware implantation in the chest.
  4. Implanted electrical device such as a pacemaker or cardiac defibrillator.
  5. Known diaphragm abnormality such as hiatal hernia or para-esophageal hernia of abdominal contents into the thoracic cavity.
  6. Participation in another treatment research study for people with ALS.
  7. Exposure to any other agent currently under investigation for the treatment of people with ALS (off-label use or investigational) within 30 days of the Screening Visit.
  8. Clinically significant history of unstable or severe cardiac, oncologic, hepatic, psychiatric, renal disease, or other medically significant illness.
  9. Pregnant women or women currently breastfeeding.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
NeuRx® Diaphragm Pacing System™ (DPS)NeuRx® Diaphragm Pacing System™ (DPS)Patients randomized to the experimental arm will receive The NeuRx® Diaphragm Pacing System™ (DPS) device. Under general anesthesia, the intramuscular electrodes are surgically implanted in the diaphragm.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
SurvivalSubjects will be assessed on a monthly basis for an 18 month period.
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
quality of lifeSubjects will be assessed on a monthly basis for an 18 month period.

Trial Locations

Locations (25)

St Louis University

🇺🇸

Saint Louis, Missouri, United States

Wake Forest University

🇺🇸

Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States

Stanford University

🇺🇸

Stanford, California, United States

Mayo Clinic Florida

🇺🇸

Jacksonville, Florida, United States

University of Iowa

🇺🇸

Iowa City, Iowa, United States

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

🇺🇸

Los Angeles, California, United States

Hospital for Special Care

🇺🇸

New Britain, Connecticut, United States

Massachusetts General Hospital

🇺🇸

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Neurology Associates P.C.

🇺🇸

Lincoln, Nebraska, United States

SUNY Upstate Medical University

🇺🇸

Syracuse, New York, United States

Cleveland Clinic

🇺🇸

Cleveland, Ohio, United States

Drexel University

🇺🇸

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

University of Pittsburgh

🇺🇸

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

Virginia Mason Medical Center

🇺🇸

Seattle, Washington, United States

Hospital for Special Surgery

🇺🇸

New York, New York, United States

Barrow Neurological Institute

🇺🇸

Phoenix, Arizona, United States

California Pacific Medical Center

🇺🇸

San Diego, California, United States

Henry Ford Health Systems

🇺🇸

Detroit, Michigan, United States

University of Texas

🇺🇸

San Antonio, Texas, United States

Providence ALS Center

🇺🇸

Portland, Oregon, United States

University of Florida, Jacksonville

🇺🇸

Jacksonville, Florida, United States

Carolinas Health Care

🇺🇸

Charlotte, North Carolina, United States

Ohio State University

🇺🇸

Columbus, Ohio, United States

University of Texas Southwestern

🇺🇸

Dallas, Texas, United States

University of Vermont

🇺🇸

Burlington, Vermont, United States

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