Minocycline to Treat Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
- Conditions
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
- Registration Number
- NCT00047723
- Brief Summary
The purpose of this trial is to test the safety, tolerability, and effectiveness of minocycline compared to placebo in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
- Detailed Description
ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder without cure or known treatment that significantly improves function. Loss of motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord of ALS patients causes the progressive symptoms. Laboratory studies have linked inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and caspase enzyme activation to motor nerve cell death in ALS. Minocycline-a medication currently approved by the FDA for treatment of bacterial infections-is a tetracycline antibiotic with high central nervous system penetration when taken orally. The drug inhibits the activity of iNOS and caspase enzymes.
Minocycline has been tested and shown to protect nerve cells in many scientific experiments. It reduces cell death and prolongs survival in animal models of ALS, stroke, trauma, Huntington's disease, and Parkinson's disease. It has been shown to be beneficial in many different animal experiments of ALS, conducted in Europe, Canada and the United States.
Minocycline has been tested in 2 preliminary human trials and has been shown to be safe in patients with ALS. It has been well tolerated in conjunction with riluzole (Rilutek), the only currently FDA-approved medication for ALS.
This trial is the final important step in determining whether minocycline improves the course of ALS. The principle objective of this clinical trial is to determine whether minocycline slows disease progression and helps maintain function in patients with ALS. This multi-center placebo-controlled study will select patients early in the course of ALS, when a neuroprotective therapy may be most beneficial. The study will measure change in function (as detected by ALSFRS-R scores), strength, pulmonary function, survival, and quality of life. Participants will undergo monthly outpatient evaluations and analysis of laboratory and adverse events. This is a 13-month study.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 400
Not provided
Not provided
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- Not specified
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Change in function as detected by the ALS Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS-R) in patients taking minocycline compared to those taking placebo.
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Changes in manual muscle testing (MMT), forced vital capacity (FVC, percent predicted), quality of life (QOL) and survival
Trial Locations
- Locations (29)
Mayo Clinic
🇺🇸Jacksonville, Florida, United States
University of California, Irvine
🇺🇸Irvine, California, United States
University of California Department of Neurology
🇺🇸Los Angeles, California, United States
California Pacific Medical Center
🇺🇸San Francisco, California, United States
Univ. of Colorado Health Sciences Center
🇺🇸Denver, Colorado, United States
University of Illinois
🇺🇸Chicago, Illinois, United States
Indiana University School of Medicine
🇺🇸Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
University of Iowa
🇺🇸Iowa City, Iowa, United States
University of Kansas Medical Center
🇺🇸Kansas City, Kansas, United States
University of Kentucky
🇺🇸Lexington, Kentucky, United States
Scroll for more (19 remaining)Mayo Clinic🇺🇸Jacksonville, Florida, United States