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A Multicenter, Dose Ranging Safety and Pharmacokinetics Study of Arimoclomol in ALS

Phase 2
Completed
Conditions
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
Registration Number
NCT00244244
Lead Sponsor
CytRx
Brief Summary

The primary purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of arimoclomol in ALS patients following 90 days of dosing. In addition, the amount of arimoclomol in blood and cerebrospinal fluid will be measured.

Detailed Description

Arimoclomol is a small molecule that upregulates "molecular chaperones" in cells under stress. Arimoclomol extends survival by five weeks when given both pre-symptomatically and at disease onset in a mutant superoxide dismutase (SOD1) transgenic mouse model of ALS. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated to have neuroprotective and neuroregenerative effects in other rat models of nerve damage. Molecular chaperone proteins are critical in the cellular response to stress and protein misfolding. Recent data suggest that the SOD1 mutation responsible for ALS in some patients with familial disease reduces the availability of a variety of molecular chaperones, and thus weakens their ability to respond to cellular stress. Protein misfolding and consequent aggregation may play a role in the pathogenesis of both the familial and sporadic forms of ALS. Therapeutic agents such as arimoclomol that improve cellular chaperone response to protein misfolding may be helpful in ALS.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
80
Inclusion Criteria
  • Familial or sporadic ALS
  • Vital capacity equal to or more than 60% predicted value for gender, height and age at the screening visit
  • First ALS symptoms occurred no more than five years prior to screening
  • Must be able to take oral medication
Exclusion Criteria
  • Dependence on mechanical ventilation

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Safety
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Pharmacokinetics
ALSFRS-R
Vital Capacity

Trial Locations

Locations (10)

SUNY Upstate Medical University

🇺🇸

Syracuse, New York, United States

Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

🇺🇸

Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States

University of Miami School of Medicine

🇺🇸

Miami, Florida, United States

Hennepin Faculty Associates/Berman Center

🇺🇸

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States

Massachusetts General Hospital

🇺🇸

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Duke University

🇺🇸

Durham, North Carolina, United States

Drexel University College of Medicine

🇺🇸

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

🇺🇸

San Antonio, Texas, United States

University of California, Irvine Medical Center

🇺🇸

Irvine, California, United States

University of Kansas Medical Center

🇺🇸

Kansas City, Kansas, United States

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