An Exploratory Study of the Potential for Rational Immune System Manipulation to Prevent Emergence of Synucleinopathy Manifestations in Persons With REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD)

Phase 2

Not yet recruiting

• Conditions: REM Sleep Behavior Disorder
• Interventions: Drug: Adalimumab; Drug: Placebo

• Registration Number: NCT06996652
• Lead Sponsor: Yale University

Brief Summary

This is a phase 2 study to assess the ability of adalimumab as compared to placebo to reduce or prevent progression of synuclein-related neurodegeneration in persons with idiopathic REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD). The Primary Endpoint will be change from baseline in expression of the Parkinson Disease Related Pattern (PDRP) will be assessed using change in 18-flurodeoxyglucose (FDG) Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging.

Detailed Description

Primary Objective: To assess the ability of adalimumab as compared to placebo to reduce or prevent progression of synuclein-related neurodegeneration in persons with idiopathic REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD).

Secondary Objective, Safety: Safety will be assessed by monitoring the Incidence of adverse events, clinical laboratory abnormalities, serious infections, signs and symptoms suggestive of new onset demyelinating disease, incidence of new demyelinating lesions on brain MRI scan and number of study participants who develop serum anti-adalimumab antibodies (ADAs).

Secondary Objective, Clinical: To assess the effect of adalimumab treatment on change in clinical measures presumptively related to underlying neurodegeneration. The key secondary endpoint of interest will be a composite outcome. A study participant will be considered to have met the study endpoint upon the attainment of at least 1 of the following milestones at 2 consecutive study visits at least 3 months apart:

* Increase from baseline of \> 2 points on the combined MDS-UPDRS Parts 1b and 2, OR

* Increase from baseline in MDS-UPDRS Part III motor score \> 4 points, OR

* Decrease from baseline in MoCA of \> 3 points

Additional (or Exploratory) Objectives:

* To evaluate the pharmacodynamic effect of adalimumab on biomarkers of immune system dysfunction in RBD patients to predict response to treatment

* To evaluate the effect of adalimumab on selected biomarkers reflective of neurodegeneration

* To evaluate effects of adalimumab treatment on selected measures of quality of life

* To evaluate the potential role of the microbiome and the gut immune system in the initiation and propagation of synuclein pathology in RBD patients and the effect, if any, of adalimumab on these parameters.

After a 12-week screening period, subjects will be randomized 1:1 to receive active or placebo treatment. Thereafter, subjects will be seen in clinic at 4, 12 and 26 weeks after their initial dose, and then at approximately 26-week intervals up to Week 96. A safety follow-up visit will occur 70 days after the last dose of study treatment. At specified visits, safety and clinical and biomarker assessments will be obtained, and study medication will be dispensed. Quantitative motor and cognitive assessments will be completed at home at intervals between in-person study visits.

At 6-monthly intervals, subjects will be given a body-worn sensor that they will wear for 7 days to record patterns of activity during sleep and wakefulness.

Subjects who meet one of the clinical secondary endpoints will remain in the study until its termination.

Approximately 15 subjects in each treatment group will be enrolled in an Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) biomarker sub-study. Subjects in this sub-study: Individuals participating in the CSF sub-study will undergo lumbar punctures at baseline and at yearly intervals, thereafter, to assess the effects of adalimumab on biomarkers of immune processes and neurodegeneration in the CSF.

Study Timeline

• Status Verified: 2025-05
• Study First Submitted: 2025-05-21
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-05-21
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-05-21
• Study First Posted: 2025-05-30
• Last Update Posted: 2025-05-30
• Study Start: 2025-09
• Primary Completion: 2028-04
• Study Completion: 2028-04

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 108

Inclusion Criteria

• Males, or females who are either

  1. post-menopausal or otherwise not of child-bearing potential, defined as either 1) having had no menses for 12 or months without an alternative medical cause or explanation or 2) having undergone a surgical procedure (hysterectomy, bilateral tubal ligation) that prevents conception, or
  2. practicing adequate contraception. Female subjects of childbearing potential must practice at least 1 protocol-specified method of birth control, that is effective from 30 days before baseline (or earlier) through at least 150 days after the last dose of the study drug. Female subjects of non-childbearing potential do not need to use birth control.

• Diagnosis of idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder Diagnosis of idiopathic REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD) based upon:

  1. History of Dream Enactment Behavior during sleep and
  2. Evidence of REM sleep without muscle atonia based upon polysomnogram obtained in a qualified sleep laboratory, consistent with ICSD-3 Diagnostic Criteria for RBD

• Hyposmia, defined as score < 15th percentile for age-and gender-specific normal values

• Not diagnosed with motor parkinsonism or Lewy body dementia

• Have a MoCA score at screening and baseline >23

• Able to speak, read and write fluently in English, Spanish, or French

• Subject must be willing and able to attend all study visits as required by the study protocol

• Subject must have a study partner who is in regular contact with the subject and can accompany the subject to clinic visits and report on subject's functional status

• Subject must be able to self-inject study drug regularly or have a study partner who is available, willing and able to do so

• Subject must be able to understand the study requirements and provide written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

• Alternative explanation or etiology for the presence of RBD (e.g. narcolepsy)

• Other than RBD, neurologic or medical disorder which may impair cognition including: head trauma, seizure disorder, neurodegenerative disease, hydrocephalus, cerebral/spinal hematoma, inflammatory disease, CNS infection (e.g., encephalitis or meningitis), neoplasm, toxic exposure, metabolic disorder (including hypoxic or hypoglycemic episodes), or endocrine disorder, or any significant medical conditions that, in the opinion of the investigator, would prohibit their participation in the study.

• As assessed by the central reader, MRI evidence of (a) more than three lacunar infarcts, (b) territorial infarct or macroscopic hemorrhage, or (c) deep white matter lesions corresponding to a Fazekas score of 3

• Any contra-indication to undergo MRI, as judged by local PI or radiologist, including but not limited to presence of pacemaker, aneurysm clips, artificial heart valves, ear implants, ventriculoperitoneal shunt, foreign metal objects in the eyes, skin or body or any other circumstance which would contra-indicate an MRI scan or impair MRI image quality, or history of claustrophobia or of not tolerating MRI scanning procedures

• History or active presence of any of the following neurological, psychiatric or medical conditions:

  1. Large vessel stroke

  2. Peripheral or CNS demyelinating disease

  3. Chronic and/or recurrent fungal, bacterial or opportunistic infections

  4. Myocardial infarction or unstable angina within the previous 12 months

  5. Clinically relevant or significant ECG abnormalities, including ECG with QT interval corrected for heart rate using Fridericia's formula (QT interval corrected for heart rate using Fridericia's formula) > 450 msec (males) or > 470 msec (females).

  6. Congestive heart failure, NYHA Class 3 or 4

  7. Autoimmune disease (e.g., Systemic Lupus Erythematosis (SLE), or symptoms suggestive of a lupus-like syndrome, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, Type 1 diabetes mellitus, inflammatory bowel disease, psoriasis, etc.)

  8. Immunocompromised systemically due to continuing effects of immune suppressing medication

  9. Current or previous hepatitis B infection (defined as positive test for hepatitis B surface antigen (HbSAg) and/or hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc).

     Subjects with immunity to hepatitis B (if due to natural infection defined as negative HBsAg, positive hepatitis B antibody (anti-HBs) and positive anti-HBc; if due to vaccination defined as negative HBsAg, negative anti-HBc and positive anti-HBs are eligible to participate in the study For patients with resolved HBV infection, if anti-HBc negative, HBV DNA testing is needed prior to initiating study drug

  10. History or positive test at Screening for hepatitis C virus antibody (anti-HCV) in the absence of treatment resulting in cure

  11. History or positive test at Screening for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

  12. History of untreated or incompletely treated tuberculosis or a positive tuberculosis IGRA test.

  13. History of malignancy other than successfully treated, non-metastatic cutaneous squamous or basal cell carcinoma or localized carcinoma in situ of the cervix

  14. Major depressive episode requiring initiation of medication or hospitalization within the previous 90 days

  15. Seated blood pressure > 150/90 on 3 separate determinations

  16. Presence of hallucinations or delusions

  17. Psychiatric disorder (schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, etc.) associated with psychosis

  18. Active infection(s) requiring treatment with intravenous anti-infectives within 30 days, or oral/intramuscular anti-infectives within 14 days prior to baseline

  19. Major surgery within 12 weeks of screening

  20. Blood donation of 1 unit or more within 8 weeks prior to the first dose of study medication

• Any of the following laboratory abnormalities at Screening

  1. Screening values for hemoglobin < 12 g/d for men or < 11 g/dL for women or other clinically significant hematological abnormality
  2. Any serum chemistry value (e.g., AST, ALT, alkaline phosphatase, CK, total bilirubin etc. > 2x the upper limit of normal on 2 successive determinations less than 2 weeks apart
  3. Serum creatinine above the ULN or eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2
  4. Platelet count, INR, PT or PTT not within the normal range or other risk for increased or uncontrolled bleeding

• Any other significant medical conditions that, in the opinion of the investigator, would prohibit participation in the study, including inability to tolerate the MRI scan

• For subjects agreeing to lumbar puncture: Presence of contra-indication to lumbar puncture as judged by local PI (e.g., known X-ray or other evidence of significant lumbar spine abnormalities or history of lumbar surgery with sequalae that would interfere with or pose risks from the procedure; platelet count below 50,000 cells/mL; need for anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications other than aspirin at a dose of < 100 mg/day or clopidogrel (see item 10 (g) below))

• Taking any of the following medications:

  1. Symptomatic anti-Parkinson agents, including but not limited to levodopa-containing preparations, dopamine agonists, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, amantadine, and adenosine receptor antagonists taken any time prior to the screening visit
  2. Cognitive enhancing agents, including but not limited to acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and memantine taken any time prior to the screening visit
  3. Stimulant medications, including but not limited to lisdexamphetamine, dextroamphetamine/amphetamine (Adderall) and methylphenidate taken at any time prior to the screening visit
  4. Antipsychotic agents, including pimavanserin
  5. Antidepressant medications whose dose has not been stable for at least 90 days
  6. Use of any of the following medications within 12 months prior to Screening: Immunosuppressant medications, including chronic corticosteroids, anakinra and abatacept
  7. Any previous use of injected or infused antibody therapies, including but not limited antibodies directed against TNF, anti-IL-6, natalizumab, rituximab, conventional or targeted DMARD agents
  8. For subjects agreeing to undergo lumbar puncture: Anticoagulant or anti-platelet medications including warfarin, heparinoids and direct coagulation factor inhibitors (e.g., apixaban, dabigatran, rivaroxaban) within 90 days of the planned first dose of study drug; either aspirin at a dose of <¬ 100 mg/day or clopidogrel at a dose of 75 mg/day, but use of both in combination is permitted.
  9. Received any live vaccine, with the exception of non-replicating live viral vaccines such as Jynneos vaccine, within 30 days prior to the first dose of study drug, or expected need of live vaccination during study participation including at least 70 days after the last dose of study drug.

• History of an allergic reaction or significant sensitivity to adalimumab or constituents of the study drug (and its excipients) and/or other products in the same class

• Participation in any other interventional clinical trial, or treatment with any investigational drug or investigational use of an approved therapy within 30 days (or 5 half-lives of such agent) prior to the first Screening visit.

• History of drug or alcohol abuse within the last 5 years (including cannabis use disorder)

• Positive urine drug test at screening

• Unwillingness or inability to comply with study requirements, including self-administration of study medication, or history of noncompliance in prior clinical trials

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Adalimumab	Adalimumab	Participants in this arm will receive Adalimumab every 2 weeks for up to 2 years
Placebo	Placebo	Participants in this arm will receive matching placebo every 2 weeks for up to 2 years

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in Parkinson Disease Related Pattern (PDRP) expression	Baseline and Week 96	Change from Baseline to Week 96in the expression of the Parkinson Disease Related Pattern (PDRP) assessed by 18-flurodeoxyglucose (FDG) Positron Emission Tomography (PET).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Percentage of participants that experience adverse events	up to Week 96	Percentage of participants that experience any adverse event
Percentage of participants with clinical laboratory abnormalities	up to Week 96	Percentage of participants with any clinical laboratory abnormalities
Percentage of participants with possible new onset of disease	up to Week 96	Percentage of participants with serious infections and/or signs and symptoms suggestive of new onset demyelinating disease
Percentage of participants with new onset of disease	up to Week 96	Percentage of participants with new demyelinating lesions on brain MRI scan
Percentage of participants with serum anti-adalimumab antibodies (ADAs)	up to Week 96	Percentage of participants who develop serum anti-adalimumab antibodies (ADAs)
Number of participants that meet study endpoint	up to Week 96	This is a composite clinical outcome. A study participant will be considered to have met the study endpoint upon the attainment of at least 1 of the following milestones at 2 consecutive study visits at least 3 months apart: * Increase from baseline of \> 2 points on the combined MDS-UPDRS Parts 1b and 2, OR; * Increase from baseline in MDS-UPDRS Part III motor score \> 4 points, OR; * Decrease from baseline in MoCA of \> 3 points

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Yale Medicine; 🇺🇸 North Haven, Connecticut, United States