Nicotinamide as an Early Alzheimer's Disease Treatment

Phase 2

Completed

• Conditions: Alzheimer's Disease; Mild Cognitive Impairment
• Interventions: Drug: Placebo Comparator; Drug: Nicotinamide

• Registration Number: NCT03061474
• Lead Sponsor: University of California, Irvine

Brief Summary

The purpose of this research study is to test whether nicotinamide, also known as vitamin B3 or niacinamide, taken in high doses, can reduce phosphorylation of tau (the protein that accumulates in neurofibrillary tangles) in people with Mild Cognitive Impairment or mild Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia.

Detailed Description

Nicotinamide, the amide of nicotinic acid (vitamin B3/niacin), is an oral therapy with a wealth of clinical data in a variety of therapeutic areas, including preliminary data supporting its safety in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Preclinical work in a mouse model that develops both plaques and tangles supports the hypothesis that nicotinamide can act as a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor to reduce phosphorylation of tau.

The study will implement a group sequential design, incorporating a futility analysis with a go/no-go decision conditional on cerebral spinal fluid CSF biomarker outcomes at 12-months. The primary outcome for the trial is change in p-tau231.

This study timeline includes a screening phase of up to 60 days and treatment phase which is expected to last about 48 weeks and will include 4 study visits.

An additional 12-month treatment and follow-up period is planned, contingent upon a "go" decision based on the primary outcome (CSF p-tau231) or one planned secondary outcome (CSF p-tau181)

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2017-02-13
• Study First Submitted QC: 2017-02-17
• Study First Posted: 2017-02-23
• Study Start: 2017-07-12
• Primary Completion: 2022-08-30
• Study Completion: 2022-08-30
• Results First Submitted: 2023-08-22
• Status Verified: 2023-09
• Results First Submitted QC: 2023-09-22
• Last Update Submitted: 2023-09-22
• Results First Posted: 2023-10-17
• Last Update Posted: 2023-10-17

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 46

Inclusion Criteria

1. Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) or dementia due to Alzheimer's disease (AD)

2. Biomarker criteria:

   Cerebral Spinal Fluid (CSF) Amyloid Beta 1-42 (Aβ42) <= 600 pg/mL, or A ratio of total tau to Aβ42 ≥ 0.39.

3. Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) ≥ 20

4. Blood laboratories, urinalysis, and electrocardiogram are within normal limits or deemed clinically not significant by the site investigator

5. Stable medications (including approved AD therapies) for at least 4 weeks

6. At least 6 years of education

7. Able to swallow oral tablets

8. Speaks English fluently

9. Available qualified study partner (≥3 times per week in-person communication with the participant)

Exclusion Criteria

1. Active neurological or psychiatric diagnosis other than AD that may affect cognition and/or function. (Obstructive sleep apnea is permitted, if treated.)
2. Inability to undergo lumbar puncture, including use of Coumadin, novel oral anticoagulants, clopidogrel, or dipyridamole. Use of aspirin <= 325mg daily is permitted.
3. Hachinski ischemic scale > 4
4. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) incompatibility
5. MRI evidence of cortical stroke >1cm, superficial siderosis, or extensive white matter hyperintensity (Cardiovascular Health Study score 7-8+)
6. Diagnosis of cancer in the previous 5 years (with the exception of basal or squamous cell carcinoma)
7. Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) score >6
8. History within the past 5 years of alcohol or substance use disorder
9. Laboratory evidence of a clinically significant abnormality that may interfere with study assessments
10. Active partial or total malabsorptive disease (e.g., celiac disease)
11. Resides in a skilled nursing facility
12. Participation in a clinical trial of a potential disease-modifying therapy for AD in previous 6-months (time between last investigational drug administration and baseline for the current study)
13. Pregnant, lactating or of child bearing potential (that is, women must be 2 years post-menopausal or surgically sterile to be considered not child bearing potential).
14. Unwillingness to abstain from over-the-counter nicotinamide for the duration of the trial

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Placebo	Placebo Comparator	1500mg twice daily: 2, 750mg tablets taken orally twice daily
Nicotinamide	Nicotinamide	1500mg twice daily: 2, 750mg tablets taken orally twice daily

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Vital Signs - Systolic Blood Pressure	Screening through end of study (week 48)	Systolic blood pressure was recorded at every study visit (screening, baseline, week 12, week 24, and week 48)
Count of Adverse Events by Severity	Baseline to 48 weeks	Count of treatment emergent adverse events (TEAEs) over the duration of the study period (baseline to 48 weeks).
Change in P-tau 231	Baseline to 48 weeks	Change in key peptide in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from baseline to 48 weeks. Higher phosphorylated tau (p-tau) is associated with a severity of Alzheimer's disease pathology.
Vital Signs - Weight	Screening through end of study (week 48)	Weight in kg was recorded at every study visit (screening, baseline, week 12, week 24, and week 48)
Vital Signs - BMI	Screening through end of study (week 48)	Body Mass Index (BMI) was recorded at every study visit (screening, baseline, week 12, week 24, and week 48)
Vital Signs - Diastolic Blood Pressure	Screening through end of study (week 48)	Diastolic blood pressure was recorded at every study visit (screening, baseline, week 12, week 24, and week 48)
Vital Signs - Pulse	Screening through end of study (week 48)	Pulse rate was recorded at every study visit (screening, baseline, week 12, week 24, and week 48)
Count of Treatment Emergent Adverse Events	Baseline to 48 weeks	Count of treatment emergent adverse events (TEAEs) over the duration of the study period (baseline to 48 weeks).
Change in QTC	Baseline to 48 weeks	Average within-subject change in electrocardiogram QT interval.
Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale	Baseline to 48 weeks	The Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) captures the occurrence, severity, and frequency of suicide-related thoughts and behaviors during the corresponding assessment period. The scale includes suggested questions to elicit the type of information needed to determine if a suicide-related thought or behavior occurred. The number and proportion of subjects with treatment emergent Suicidal ideation or behavior during the study period of (baseline to week 48) will be reported overall and by study arm. Treatment emergent suicidal ideation or behavior is defined as a "yes" answer at any time during treatment to any one of the questions in the ten suicidal ideation and behavior categories (Categories 1- 10) on the C-SSRS. Self-injurious behavior without suicidal intent, while assessed on the C-SSRS, does not form part of this outcome.
ECG Abnormalities	Baseline to 48 weeks	Count of participants experiencing at least one electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormality.
QTC Abnormalities	Baseline to 48 weeks	Count of participants experiencing at least one electrocardiogram (ECG) QT interval abnormality. Abnormal defined as above 460 for men and above 470 for women.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in ab40	Baseline to 48 weeks	Change in key peptide in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from baseline to 48 weeks. Lower ab40 is associated with a greater probability of fibrillar amyloid burden in the brain.
Change in ab42	Baseline to 48 weeks	Change in key peptide in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from baseline to 48 weeks. Lower ab42 is associated with a greater probability of fibrillar amyloid burden in the brain.
Change in Total Tau	Baseline to 48 weeks	Change in CSF total tau in individuals with mild Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia or Mild Cognitive Impairment due to AD.
Change in Ratio of Total Tau/ab42	Baseline to 48 weeks	Change in ratio of key peptides in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from baseline to 48 weeks. A lower ab42/tau ratio is associated with a higher risk of dementia.
Activities of Daily Living - Mild Cognitive Impairment	Baseline to 48 weeks	The ADCS-ADL-MCI is a measure of patient functional performance in Alzheimer's Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment trials. The informant-based questionnaire assesses conduct of basic and instrumental Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). A total of 24 ADLs are evaluated. Scores range from 0 to 53, with higher scores representing more maintained function.
ADASCog-13	Baseline to 48 weeks	ADAS-Cog13 is a structured scale that evaluates memory (immediate and delayed word recall; immediate word recognition), receptive and expressive language, orientation, ideational praxis (preparing a letter for mailing), constructional praxis (copying figures), and attention (number cancellation). Ratings of spoken language, language comprehension, word finding difficulty, and ability to remember test instructions also are obtained. Range: 0-85; higher scores indicate greater impairment.
Change in P-tau 181	Baseline to 48 weeks	Change in key peptide in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from baseline to 48 weeks. Higher total value is associated with greater severity of Alzheimer's disease pathology.
Change in Ratio of Total Tau/ab40	Baseline to 48 weeks	Change in ratio of key peptides in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from baseline to 48 weeks. A lower ab40/tau ratio is associated with a higher risk of dementia.
CDR Sum of Boxes	Baseline to 48 weeks	CDR-SB is a composite rating of cognition and everyday function which incorporates both informant input and direct assessment of performance. It assesses through semi-structured interview three cognitive domains (memory, orientation, and judgement/problem solving) and three everyday functional domains (community affairs, home and hobbies, personal care). Level of impairment in each of the six domains is rated from none (score=0) to severe (score=3). The six domain scores are then summed to create the CDR-SB. Range 0-18; higher scores indicate greater impairment.

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

University of California, Irvine; 🇺🇸 Irvine, California, United States

University of California, Los Angeles; 🇺🇸 Los Angeles, California, United States