Open-Label Extension Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability and Activity of Oral Fampridine-SR in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis

Phase 3

Completed

Conditions: Multiple Sclerosis

Registration Number: NCT00654927

Lead Sponsor: Acorda Therapeutics

Brief Summary: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the long-term safety, tolerability and activity of Fampridine-SR in subjects with multiple sclerosis who have previously participated in either an Acorda Therapeutics or an Elan Corporation sponsored protocol. Subjects are eligible regardless of whether they received active drug or placebo during their participation in the previous study.

Detailed Description: Under the original protocol, patients were to have their treatment dose titrated upwards from a starting dose of 10mg b.i.d. to 15mg b.i.d. and then to a stable (maintenance) dose of 20mg b.i.d. The protocol was subsequently revised to lower the maximum maintenance dose. In the most current protocol, all patients were down-titrated to 10mg b.i.d. and maintained at this dose for the greater part of the duration of the study.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a disorder of the body's immune system that affects the central nervous system (CNS). Normally, nerve fibers carry electrical impulses through the spinal cord, providing communication between the brain and the arms and legs. In people with MS, the fatty sheath that surrounds and insulates the nerve fibers (called "myelin") deteriorates, causing nerve impulses to be slowed or stopped. As a result, patients with MS may experience periods of muscle weakness and other symptoms such as numbness, loss of vision, loss of coordination, paralysis, spasticity, mental and physical fatigue and a decrease in the ability to think and/or remember. These periods of illness may come (exacerbations) and go (remissions). Fampridine-SR is an experimental drug that has been reported to possibly improve muscle strength and walking ability for some people with MS. This study will evaluate the effects and possible risks of taking Fampridine-SR in MS patients over a long period of time.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: COMPLETED

Sex: All

Target Recruitment: 177

Inclusion Criteria

The subject must have been previously enrolled in an Acorda Therapeutics or an Elan Corporation sponsored study for multiple sclerosis and received either Fampridine or placebo.
The subject must have multiple sclerosis as determined by the Principal Investigator.
The subject, male or female, must be at least 18 years of age. Any subject who is now over the age of 70 must be in good overall health in the judgment of the Investigator.
The subject must be of adequate cognitive function, as judged by the Investigator.
Any subject who is female and of childbearing potential, regardless of sexual activity, must have a negative urine pregnancy test at the Screening Visit.

Exclusion Criteria

The subject is a female who is either pregnant or breastfeeding, or of child-bearing potential, who, if engaged in active heterosexual relations and has not had a hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy, would not use one of the following birth control methods: tubal ligation, implantable contraception device, oral, injectable or transdermal contraceptive, barrier method or sexual activity restricted to vasectomized partner.
The subject withdrew from a previous Fampridine study because of a Serious Adverse Event that was possibly, probably or definitely related to Fampridine.
The subject has a history of seizures or has evidence of past, or possible, epileptiform activity on an EEG.
The subject has either a clinically significant abnormal ECG or laboratory value(s) at the Screening Visit, as judged by the Investigator
The subject has angina, uncontrolled hypertension, clinically significant cardiac arrhythmias, or any other clinically significant cardiovascular abnormality, as judged by the Investigator.
The subject has a known allergy to pyridine-containing substances or any of the inactive ingredients of the Fampridine tablet
The subject has received an investigational drug, except for Fampridine- SR (or matching placebo) under Protocol MS-F202, within 30 days prior to the Screening Visit; or the subject is scheduled to enroll in an investigational drug trial at any time during this study.
The subject has received compounded 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) within 14 days of the Screening Visit.
The subject has had an onset of an MS exacerbation within 30 days prior to the Screening Visit, or, if in the judgment of the Investigator, has not stabilized from a prior exacerbation episode.
The subject has started on a concomitant medication regimen for an underlying disease/symptom within the past 7 days; or has started an interferon or chemotherapeutic agent for multiple sclerosis within the past 4 weeks.
The subject has a history of drug or alcohol abuse within the past year.

Study & Design

Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL

Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Summary of Treatment Emergent Adverse Events (TEAE).	over 7 years (2004-2011)	All adverse events reported were treatment emergent. Therefore, events that had a date of onset, or worsening, on or after the start of the open-label drug and up to 14 days after the last dose (for non-serious events) or up to 30 days after the last dose (for SAEs) were summarized. Any abnormal clinically significant changes in physical examination, medical history, clinical laboratory testing, 12-lead ECG, and standard EEG testing were captured as adverse events.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Timed 25 Foot Walk (T25FW)	Screening visit, visit 4, every 12 weeks thereafter, Last Regular Visit, Follow Up Visit and Early Termination Visit
Subject Global Impression (SGI)	visit 1 and every clinic visit	The patient was asked to complete a Subject Global Impression (SGI) questionnaire at Visit 1 and every study visit thereafter except the Follow-up visit. This questionnaire asked the patient to rate the effects of the investigational drug on his/her physical well-being during the preceding week, using a 1 to 7 point scale (1 = terrible, 7 = delighted)
Clinician Global Impression of Change (CGIC)	visit 1 and every clinic visit	The CGIC was based on the Investigator's overall impression of the patient's neurological status and general state of health related to his or her participation in the study, specifically in regard to signs and symptoms associated with MS. Neurological status was rated according to a 1 to 7 point scale (1 = very much improved, 7 = very much worse)
Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS)	Screening visit, visit 6 and every 24 months thereafter	Based on the baseline neurological exam, each patient was scored according to the Expanded Disability Status Scale, which rates disability on a 0 to 10 scale (0 = normal neurologic examination, 10 = death) \*EDSS assessments were not well synchronized to study period because of wide differences in interval between screening and initiation

Trial Locations

Locations (22): St. Michael's Hospital
🇨🇦
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Shepherd Center
🇺🇸
Atlanta, Georgia, United States
University of Chicago
🇺🇸
Chicago, Illinois, United States
University of Texas-Houston
🇺🇸
Houston, Texas, United States
USC, Keck School of Medicine Health Care Consultation Center
🇺🇸
Los Angeles, California, United States
Barrow Neurology Clinic, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center
🇺🇸
Phoenix, Arizona, United States
The Schapiro Center for MS
🇺🇸
Golden Valley, Minnesota, United States
Maryland Center for MS
🇺🇸
Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Washington University School of Medicine, Div. of Rehab/Neurology
🇺🇸
St. Louis, Missouri, United States
Gimbel MS Center at Holy Name Hospital
🇺🇸
Teaneck, New Jersey, United States
Maimonides MS Care Center
🇺🇸
Brooklyn, New York, United States
Thomas Jefferson University Physicians
🇺🇸
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Foothills Medical Center
🇨🇦
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Corinne Goldsmith Dickinson Center for MS
🇺🇸
New York, New York, United States
University of Mexico, MIND Imaging Center
🇺🇸
Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States
University of Rochester
🇺🇸
Rochester, New York, United States
Ohio State University MS Center
🇺🇸
Columbus, Ohio, United States
Oregon Health & Science University, MS Center of Oregon, UHS-42
🇺🇸
Portland, Oregon, United States
MS Center at Evergreen
🇺🇸
Kirkland, Washington, United States
SUNY Stony Brook
🇺🇸
Stony Brook, New York, United States
Cleveland Clinic Foundation
🇺🇸
Cleveland, Ohio, United States
CMC - Neuroscience & Spine Institute, Division of Neurology
🇺🇸
Charlotte, North Carolina, United States