MedPath

Safety and Efficacy of AVP-923 in PBA Patients With ALS or MS

Registration Number
NCT00573443
Lead Sponsor
Avanir Pharmaceuticals
Brief Summary

Objectives of the study are to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of two different doses of AVP-923 (capsules containing either 30 mg of dextromethorphan hydrobromide and 10 mg of quinidine sulfate \[AVP-923-30\] or 20 mg of dextromethorphan hydrobromide and 10 mg of quinidine sulfate \[AVP-923-20\]) when compared to placebo, for the treatment of PBA in a population of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or multiple sclerosis (MS) over a 12-week period. An additional objective is to determine the pharmacokinetic parameters of the two different doses of AVP-923 in a subset of the study population.

Pseudobulbar Affect (PBA) is a condition characterized by involuntary, sudden and frequent episodes of laughing and/or crying out of proportion or incongruous to the underlying emotion of happiness or sadness Other terms used to describe this condition include emotional lability, emotionalism, emotional incontinence, emotional discontrol, excessive emotionalism, and pathological laughing and crying. The outbursts can occur spontaneously or in response to provocative stimuli such as questions or events.

A body of evidence suggests that PBA can be modulated through pharmacologic intervention.

Dextromethorphan (DM) is a low-affinity uncompetitive antagonist of the N-Methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, reducing the level of excitatory activity. DM also acts at the phencyclidine-binding site, which is part of the NMDA receptor complex. DM is a sigma receptor agonist, suppressing the release of excitatory neurotransmitters.

Quinidine (Q) is a known potent inhibitor of cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6), that decreases the metabolism of dextromethorphan and helps to achieve sustained and therapeutic levels of this drug.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
326
Inclusion Criteria
  • The patient has a diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (according to El Escorial Criteria, WFN, 1998) and the time from diagnosis of ALS is not be longer than 30 months, or the patient has a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis or probable multiple sclerosis (according to McDonald criteria, 2001)
  • The patient has a clinical history and clinical relevant symptoms of Pseudobulbar Affect (PBA)
  • CNS-LS score at baseline is 13 or greater

Main

Exclusion Criteria
  • Patients with myasthenia gravis
  • Any personal history of complete heart block, QTc prolongation, or torsades de pointes
  • Any family history of congenital QT interval prolongation syndrome
  • Patients with known sensitivity to quinidine, dextromethorphan or opiate drugs (codeine, etc.)

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
DM 30 mg/Q 10 mgdextromethorphan hydrobromide 30 mg and quinidine sulfate 10 mgAVP-923-30/10 Capsules (30 mg dextromethorphan/10 mg quinidine)administered once daily for 1 week and then twice daily for 11 weeks
DM 20 mg/ Q 10 mgdextromethorphan hydrobromide 20 mg and quinidine sulfate 10 mgAVP-923-20/10 Capsules (20 mg dextromethorphan/10 mg quinidine)administered once daily for 1 week and then twice daily for 11 weeks
PlaceboPlaceboPlacebo Capsules once daily for 1 week and then twice daily for an additional 11 weeks
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
PBA Episode Rate Ratio (Post/Pre), Regression AdjustedBaseline to Day 84

Episodes were counted each day and recorded in a daily diary. The outcome measure is the ratio of the episode rate over the 84-day treatment period to the rate during the baseline period, adjusted for study site, and underlying disease using longitudinal negative binomial regression.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Mean Change From Baseline in CNS-LS Total Score by VisitBaseline, Day 15, Day 29, Day 57, Day 84

Center for Neurologic Studies-Lability Scale (CNS-LS) is an instrument for the measurement of PBA that has been validated for the use in patients with ALS and MS. It is a 7-item self-report questionnaire that measures the frequency and severity of PBA episodes, including assessments of labile laughter and labile tearfulness,and provides a score for total PBA (total score can range from 7-35). The following 5-point scoring was used: 1=Applies never, 2=Applies rarely, 3=Applies occasionally, 4=Applies frequently, 5=Applies most of the time. A score of 13 or higher may suggest PBA, and the higher the score the more severe the episodes.

Mean Change From Baseline to Day 84 in Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI-Q) Frequency and Severity Score (ITT Population)Baseline to Day 84

The NPI is a retrospective (to 1 month) caregiver-informant interview assessing frequency and severity of 12 neuropsychiatric symptom domains. The NPI score is based on the sum of the severity ratings (0=absent, 1=mild, 3=severe). The 12 symptom domains include delusions, hallucinations, agitation/aggression, dysphoria/depression, anxiety, euphoria/elation, apathy/indifference, disinhibition, irritability/lability, aberrant motor behaviors, nighttime behavioral disturbances, and appetite/eating abnormalities. The NPI severity score is based on severity ratings (0=absent, 1=mild to 3=severe).

Mean Change From Baseline at Day 84 in SF-36 (Short-Form) Health Survey Medical Outcome Score by CategoryBaseline and Day 84

The SF-36 is designed to examine a person's perceived health status. The SF-36 includes one multi-item scale measuring eight health concepts: vitality, physical functioning, bodily pain, general health perceptions, physical role-, emotional role-, social role functioning, and mental health. Answers to each question are scored and summed to produce raw scale scores for each health concept which are then transformed to a 0 - 100 scale, a high score defining a more favorable health state. An aggregate summary measure is calculated by averaging the scores from the eight health concepts.

Mean Change From Baseline at Day 84 in Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) Total ScoreBaseline and Day 84

The BDI-II is a 21-item self report instrument intended to assess the existence and severity of symptoms of depression, summed to give a single score. The BDI-II uses a 4-point for each item ranging from 0 to 3. A total score of 0-13 is considered minimal range, 14 to 19 is mild, 20 to 28 is moderate, and 29 to 63 is severe.

Mean Change From Baseline to Day 84 in Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI-Q) Frequency and Severity Score (EE Population)Baseline to Day 84

The NPI is a retrospective (to 1 month) caregiver-informant interview assessing frequency and severity of 12 neuropsychiatric symptom domains. The NPI score is based on the sum of the severity ratings (0=absent, 1=mild, 3=severe). The 12 symptom domains include delusions, hallucinations, agitation/aggression, dysphoria/depression, anxiety, euphoria/elation, apathy/indifference, disinhibition, irritability/lability, aberrant motor behaviors, nighttime behavioral disturbances, and appetite/eating abnormalities. The NPI severity score is based on severity ratings (0=absent, 1=mild to 3=severe).

Mean Change From Baseline to Day 84 in Pain Rating Scale (PRS) of MS SubjectsBaseline, Day 15, Day 29, Day 57, Day 84

Subjects with MS were instructed to also record daily the pain they experienced using the PRS. After evaluating the subject's ability to comply with these requirements, the investigator determined if a caregiver should complete the study diary and assessments. Subjects rated their pain over the past 12 hours on a scale of 0 to 10 (0=none, 10=worst pain ever experienced).

Trial Locations

Locations (62)

Mayo Clinic

🇺🇸

Jacksonville, Florida, United States

Hospital Ramos Mejia

🇦🇷

Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina

Policlinico Bancario

🇦🇷

Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina

Advanced Neurology Specialists

🇺🇸

Great Falls, Montana, United States

Universitiy of Vermont

🇺🇸

Burlington, Vermont, United States

West Virginia University

🇺🇸

Morgantown, West Virginia, United States

Neuromuscular Research Center

🇺🇸

Scottsdale, Arizona, United States

South Coast Clinical Trials

🇺🇸

Anaheim, California, United States

UCI Medical Center

🇺🇸

Irvine, California, United States

Center for Neurologic Study

🇺🇸

La Jolla, California, United States

UCLA School of Medicine

🇺🇸

Los Angeles, California, United States

Neuroscience Center

🇺🇸

Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, United States

Suncoast Neuroscience Associates

🇺🇸

St. Petersburg, Florida, United States

The ALS Center at Emory University

🇺🇸

Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Neurology Specialists of Decatur of Decatur

🇺🇸

Decatur, Georgia, United States

Consultants in Neurology

🇺🇸

Northbrook, Illinois, United States

Northwestern University

🇺🇸

Chicago, Illinois, United States

University of Kentucky Health Care - Dept. of Neurology

🇺🇸

Lexington, Kentucky, United States

The John Hopkins Universitiy

🇺🇸

Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Massachusets General Hospital

🇺🇸

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Baystate Medical Center

🇺🇸

Springfield, Massachusetts, United States

St.Louis University - Neuromuscular Clinic

🇺🇸

St. Louis, Missouri, United States

Upstate Clinical Research

🇺🇸

Albany, New York, United States

Jacobs Neurological Institute

🇺🇸

Buffalo, New York, United States

Mount Sinai Medical Center

🇺🇸

New York, New York, United States

Neurology Associates

🇺🇸

Lincoln, Nebraska, United States

Carolinas Medical Center

🇺🇸

Charlotte, North Carolina, United States

Neurological Institute - Columbia Presbyterian Center

🇺🇸

New York, New York, United States

Department of Neurology - The Cleveland Clinic Foundation

🇺🇸

Cleveland, Ohio, United States

Ohio State Universitiy

🇺🇸

Columbus, Ohio, United States

Drexel University - Department of Neurology

🇺🇸

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

The ALS Center - Penn Neurological Institute - The University of Pennsylvania

🇺🇸

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Department of Neuropsychiatry - Texas Tech University

🇺🇸

Lubbock, Texas, United States

The Methodist Hospital - Baylor College of Medicine

🇺🇸

Houston, Texas, United States

Dean Foundation

🇺🇸

Madison, Wisconsin, United States

FACENE

🇦🇷

Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina

IADIN

🇦🇷

Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina

Hospital Italiano

🇦🇷

Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina

INEBA

🇦🇷

Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina

Hospital Britanico

🇦🇷

Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina

FLENI

🇦🇷

Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina

Santa Casa de Misericordia de Belo Horizonte

🇧🇷

Belo Horizonte, M G, Brazil

Instituto Medico Rodriguez Alfici

🇦🇷

Godoy Cruz, Mendoza, Argentina

Instituto de Neurociencias Rosario

🇦🇷

Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina

Hospital Militar Regional de Cordoba

🇦🇷

Cordoba, Argentina

Hospital da Restauração

🇧🇷

Recife, PE, Brazil

Hospital Moinhos de Vento

🇧🇷

Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

Hospital de Clínicas-UFPR

🇧🇷

Curitiba, PR, Brazil

University of Miami

🇺🇸

Miami, Florida, United States

Universitiy of Nevada

🇺🇸

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center

🇺🇸

Phoenix, Arizona, United States

The Forbes Norris MDA/ALS Research Center - California Pacific Medical Center

🇺🇸

San Francisco, California, United States

The ALS Center at UCSF

🇺🇸

San Francisco, California, United States

Henry Ford Hospital

🇺🇸

Detroit, Michigan, United States

University of Texas Health Science Center

🇺🇸

San Antonio, Texas, United States

Duke Universitiy Medical Center

🇺🇸

Durham, North Carolina, United States

Oregon Health Science University

🇺🇸

Portland, Oregon, United States

Vanderbilt University

🇺🇸

Nashville, Tennessee, United States

Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho

🇧🇷

Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade São Paulo

🇧🇷

Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil

University of Colorado at Denver & Health Science Center

🇺🇸

Aurora, Colorado, United States

University of Michigan

🇺🇸

Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States

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