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Clinical Trials/NCT06600880
NCT06600880
Not Yet Recruiting
Phase 1

Neuronavigation-guided Focused Ultrasound-induced Blood-brain Barrier Opening in Alzheimer's Disease Patients and Its Effects on Brain Amyloid and Tau

Columbia University1 site in 1 country6 target enrollmentAugust 2026

Overview

Phase
Phase 1
Intervention
Neuronavigation-guided single-element focused ultrasound transducer
Conditions
Alzheimer Disease, Early Onset
Sponsor
Columbia University
Enrollment
6
Locations
1
Primary Endpoint
Total Number of Individuals With Successful Opening of the BBB
Status
Not Yet Recruiting
Last Updated
11 months ago

Overview

Brief Summary

The primary purpose of this phase 1b study is to further assess the safety and reversibility of focused ultrasound induced blood-brain barrier opening (FUS-BBBO) in participants with Alzheimer´s Disease (AD) using a single-element transducer with neuronavigation guidance. Preliminary results from our phase 1a study demonstrate that our neuronavigation-guided FUS system was capable of safely and transiently open the BBB in participants with AD. The information collected in this new study may be used to design future clinical trials to ultimately provide a viable alternative for treatment of AD in a safe and noninvasive manner.

Our secondary objective includes the assessment of the therapeutic efficacy of FUS-BBBO in reducing amyloid beta and neurofibrillary tangles, the main hallmark pathologies of AD, using PET tracers. Based on our preclinical studies in AD transgenic mouse models, FUS-BBBO alone was able to reduce both the amyloid beta and tau protein load, resulting in improvements in behavioral tasks assessing memory. Therefore, in this new study, the effect of FUS-BBBO on the amyloid beta and tau protein load in patients with AD will be assessed through the use of PET tracers.

Detailed Description

Regarding the primary purpose of this study, the human module for the neuronavigator was implemented in our phase 1a trial, and initial feasibility and safety in a small cohort of AD patients had been tested, with a fast procedural time that required no anesthesia. Regarding the secondary objective, both amyloid beta and tau protein load in the brain will be assessed at baseline (before FUS-BBBO treatment), and 3-weeks and 3-months after FUS-BBBO treatment, to assess any short-term or long-term changes, respectively.

Registry
clinicaltrials.gov
Start Date
August 2026
End Date
December 2027
Last Updated
11 months ago
Study Type
Interventional
Study Design
Single Group
Sex
All

Investigators

Responsible Party
Sponsor

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

  • Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

  • Not provided

Arms & Interventions

Focused ultrasound treatment

Neuronavigation-guided focused ultrasound treatment in Alzheimer's disease patients using a single-element transducer in conjunction with microbubbles.

Intervention: Neuronavigation-guided single-element focused ultrasound transducer

Focused ultrasound treatment

Neuronavigation-guided focused ultrasound treatment in Alzheimer's disease patients using a single-element transducer in conjunction with microbubbles.

Intervention: Lumason

Focused ultrasound treatment

Neuronavigation-guided focused ultrasound treatment in Alzheimer's disease patients using a single-element transducer in conjunction with microbubbles.

Intervention: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) with or without gadolinium contrast agents

Focused ultrasound treatment

Neuronavigation-guided focused ultrasound treatment in Alzheimer's disease patients using a single-element transducer in conjunction with microbubbles.

Intervention: Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

Focused ultrasound treatment

Neuronavigation-guided focused ultrasound treatment in Alzheimer's disease patients using a single-element transducer in conjunction with microbubbles.

Intervention: Amyvid

Focused ultrasound treatment

Neuronavigation-guided focused ultrasound treatment in Alzheimer's disease patients using a single-element transducer in conjunction with microbubbles.

Intervention: MK-6240

Focused ultrasound treatment

Neuronavigation-guided focused ultrasound treatment in Alzheimer's disease patients using a single-element transducer in conjunction with microbubbles.

Intervention: Dotarem

Focused ultrasound treatment

Neuronavigation-guided focused ultrasound treatment in Alzheimer's disease patients using a single-element transducer in conjunction with microbubbles.

Intervention: Blood draw

Focused ultrasound treatment

Neuronavigation-guided focused ultrasound treatment in Alzheimer's disease patients using a single-element transducer in conjunction with microbubbles.

Intervention: UR5e

Focused ultrasound treatment

Neuronavigation-guided focused ultrasound treatment in Alzheimer's disease patients using a single-element transducer in conjunction with microbubbles.

Intervention: Urine test

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Total Number of Individuals With Successful Opening of the BBB

Time Frame: 4 days, including the day of treatment

Opening the BBB successfully in all the patients, while obtaining a volume of BBB opened being similar and consistent for all patients

Secondary Outcomes

  • Total Number of Safety Events Related to Opening of BBB(4 days, including the day of treatment)
  • Percent Change in Amyloid PET Signal Intensity(3 months (±2 weeks))
  • Percent Change in MK-6240 PET Signal Intensity(3 months (±2 weeks))

Study Sites (1)

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