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Clinical Trials/NCT06434038
NCT06434038
Withdrawn
Phase 1

Measurement of Insulin Levels in the Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) of Healthy Adults After a Single Intranasal Dose - Middle Age

HealthPartners Institute1 site in 1 country18 target enrollmentAugust 30, 2025

Overview

Phase
Phase 1
Intervention
Low Dose Regular insulin
Conditions
Healthy
Sponsor
HealthPartners Institute
Enrollment
18
Locations
1
Primary Endpoint
Tmax of insulin concentration-Cerebrospinal FLuid
Status
Withdrawn
Last Updated
5 months ago

Overview

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to find out whether insulin, a drug approved by the FDA for the treatment of diabetes mellitus, reaches the brain and spinal cord when delivered as a nasal spray (intranasally). Intranasal insulin has been shown to improve memory and mood in patients with neurological diseases such as mild cognitive impairment and dementia, but more evidence is needed to support the ability to effectively target the brain through intranasal routes.

18 healthy middle-aged adults will be randomly assigned to receive a single intranasal dose of 40 units insulin ("low dose" group), 80 units insulin ("high dose" group), or saline (placebo, or control group). Participants will undergo an image-guided lumbar puncture (spinal tap) performed by a study clinician. Samples of cerebrospinal fluid (a fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord) and blood will be collected at 5 timepoints during the lumbar puncture: once prior to the administration of intranasal insulin, and again at 10, 20, 30, and 40 minutes after the dose is given. Samples will be tested to determine the level of insulin detected in the cerebrospinal fluid and blood at each time point. Results of this study will provide essential information about the ability of insulin to reach the brain after intranasal administration.

Registry
clinicaltrials.gov
Start Date
August 30, 2025
End Date
February 28, 2026
Last Updated
5 months ago
Study Type
Interventional
Study Design
Parallel
Sex
All

Investigators

Responsible Party
Sponsor

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

  • Subject is between ≥36 and ≤ 55 years of age
  • Subject's BMI is between \>=18.5 and \<=24.9, or can safely undergo a lumbar puncture at the discretion of the radiologist
  • MOCA score ≥26
  • Subject must be proficient in speaking English to comply with instructions and measures for the study
  • Subject can provide written informed consent
  • Female subjects must have either: (1) a negative pregnancy test at the screening visit and treatment visit OR (2) be at least 2 years post-menopausal / surgically sterile.

Exclusion Criteria

  • Subject has medical history and/or clinically determined disorders: chronic sinusitis, previous nasal and/or oto-pharyngeal surgery and severe deviated septum and/or other anomalies.
  • Subject has history of any of the following: active and significant central nervous system, psychiatric illness, pulmonary, or cardiovascular disorders or any other clinically relevant abnormality that inclusion would pose a safety risk to the subject as determined by investigator
  • Subject has participated in a clinical trial investigation within 3 months of this study.
  • Subject has an insulin allergy
  • Subject has Insulin-dependent diabetes
  • Subject is pregnant or breast feeding
  • Contraindication to spinal tap or other safety factors that preclude lumbar puncture in the investigator's opinion
  • Any other clinically relevant finding that would pose a safety risk to the subject as determined by the investigator

Arms & Interventions

Low dose intranasal insulin

One dose of 40 international units of regular insulin administered intranasally.

Intervention: Low Dose Regular insulin

High dose Intranasal Insulin

One dose of 80 international units of regular insulin administered intranasally.

Intervention: High Dose Regular insulin

Placebo Control

One dose of 0.9% saline administered intranasally.

Intervention: 0.9% Saline

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Tmax of insulin concentration-Cerebrospinal FLuid

Time Frame: 0-40 minutes post-intranasal administration

CSF insulin concentration will also be reported by Tmax (time of peak concentration)

Concentration of insulin over Time - Cerebrospinal fluid

Time Frame: 0-40 minutes post-intranasal administration

Insulin concentration detected in cerebrospinal fluid at 5 time points (pre-insulin dose; and 10, 20, 30, 40 minutes after dose). Values will be reported as μIU/mL. Higher values indicate a greater concentration of insulin in the cerebrospinal fluid. Concentrations for each time point (overall and by dose) will be reported as a mean +/- standard error.

AUC (area under the curve) of insulin concentration-Cerebrospinal Fluid

Time Frame: 0-40 minutes post-intranasal administration

CSF insulin concentration will also be reported by AUC (area under the curve, measured as time x concentration)

Cmax of insulin concentration- Cerebrospinal Fluid

Time Frame: 0-40 minutes post- intranasal administration

CSF insulin concentration will also be reported by Cmax (peak concentration)

Secondary Outcomes

  • AUC (area under the curve) of insulin concentration - Serum(0-40 minutes post-intranasal administration)
  • Tmax of insulin - Serum(0-40 minutes post-intranasal administration)
  • Insulin Concentration Over Time- Serum(0-40 minutes post-intranasal administration)
  • Cmax of insulin concentration - Serum(0-40 minutes post-intranasal adminitration)

Study Sites (1)

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