Micronised Resveratrol as a Treatment for Friedreich Ataxia

This is an interventional treatment trial for Friedreich Ataxia focused on measuring Resveratrol, Frataxin Read More

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age ≥16 years.
2. Diagnosis of FRDA, genetically documented to be due to homozygosity for a GAA repeat expansion in intron 1 of FXN.
3. Functional stage on the Ataxia subscale of the full FARS of 1 or higher (a score of 1 is assigned if the subject has "Minimal signs detected by the physician during screening. Can run or jump without loss of balance. No disability."), and total mFARS score of ≤ 65.
4. Adequate end organ function defined as follows: (i) total bilirubin <2x upper limit of normal unless attributable to Gilbert disease, (ii) ALT and AST <1.5x upper limit of normal, (iii) Creatinine <2x upper limit of normal, (iv) neutrophils >1.5x10^9/L, (v) platelets >10^6/μL.
5. Written informed consent provided.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Non-elective hospitalisation within the past 60 days that could be of concern in the investigator's judgment. Any hospitalisation in the previous 60 days will be assessed and if in the investigator's judgement it could compromise the individual or the study, that person will not be recruited. Examples include if the individual is hospitalised for management of cardiac morbidity such as uncontrolled arrhythmia or angina or for orthopaedic surgery for a lower limb fracture.
2. Women who are pregnant or lactating or men and women of childbearing potential who are unwilling to use contraception for the duration of the study.
3. FRDA due to compound heterozygosity for an expanded GAA repeat and a point mutation/ deletion in the FXN gene.
4. Current or recent (in last 12 months) arrhythmias including: atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, sinus tachycardia >120/min, sinus bradycardia <50/min. Symptomatic paroxysmal arrhythmia which is recurring frequently. Cardiac insufficiency (by New York Heart Association >2). Reduced LV ejection fraction (<50%) in the last six months.
5. Medical illness that in the judgment of the investigator would jeopardise the safe completion of the study. Examples include cancer, chronic inflammatory disease, severe diabetes (type I or II, HbA1c >8%), chronic liver insufficiency, epilepsy, thrombocytosis.
6. Evidence of end organ dysfunction through failure to meet one or more parameters in inclusion criterion number 4.
7. Prior invasive cancer (excluding localised basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer).
8. Known hypersensitivity to resveratrol.
9. Use of any investigational agent within 30 days of enrolment.
10. Use of antioxidants such as vitamin E, coenzyme Q10 or idebenone within 30 days prior to enrolment.
11. Concomitant use of medications with potential for clinically relevant drug interactions. This includes medications with a narrow therapeutic range that are metabolised by the cytochrome P450 3A4, 2D6 or 2C9 systems e.g. warfarin, amiodarone.