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Repurposing Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors for Treatment of AD (LINE-AD)

Primary Purpose

Alzheimer Disease, Early Onset, Mild Cognitive Impairment, Moderate Dementia

Status
Recruiting
Phase
Phase 1
Locations
United States
Study Type
Interventional
Intervention
Emtriva Capsule
Placebo
Sponsored by
Butler Hospital
About
Eligibility
Locations
Arms
Outcomes
Full info

About this trial

This is an interventional treatment trial for Alzheimer Disease, Early Onset

Eligibility Criteria

50 Years - 85 Years (Adult, Older Adult)All SexesDoes not accept healthy volunteers

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Male or female, ages 50-85 years inclusive
  • Intellectually, visually and auditory capable, fluent in, and able to read, the language in which study assessments are administered (e.g. completion of at least six years of regular schooling or sustained employment or equivalent local level of knowledge).
  • Must meet NIA-AA research criteria for MCI and mild dementia due to AD
  • Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE) 15-30 inclusive
  • Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) 0.5 - 2
  • Must meet a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pTau/Aβ42 ratio of > 0.024
  • Participants must have an appropriate study partner who agrees to participate in the study and who is intellectually, visually, and auditory capable, and fluent in, and able to read, the language in which study assessments are administered. Additionally, the study partner must be capable of and willing to: Accompany the participant to visits that requires the input of the study partner
  • Concurrent treatment with cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine are permitted on a stable dose for at least 60 days prior to baseline.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Current medical or neurological condition that might impact cognition or performance on cognitive assessments, e.g., Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, syphilis, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, active major depression, attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD), multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), active seizure disorder, current alcohol/drug abuse or dependence, or dependence within the last two years, or history of traumatic brain injury associated with loss of consciousness and ongoing residual transient or permanent neurological signs/symptoms including cognitive deficits, and/or associated with skull fracture
  • Brain MRI results showing findings unrelated to AD that, in the opinion of the investigator might be a leading cause of future cognitive decline, might pose a risk to the participant, or might confound MRI assessment for safety monitoring
  • Score "yes" on item four or item five of the Suicidal Ideation section of the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (eC-SSRS patient-reported outcome), if this ideation occurred in the past six months, or "yes" on any item of the Suicidal Behavior section, except for the "Non-Suicidal Self-Injurious Behavior" (item is included in the Suicidal Behavior section), if this behavior occurred in the past 2 years prior to screening
  • Use of other investigational drugs prior to screening until:

    • Small molecules: after five half-lives, or within 30 days until the expected pharmacodynamic effect has returned to baseline, whichever is longer
    • Biologicals: blood concentration has returned to baseline (or below serological responder threshold) for antibodies induced by active immunotherapy; or five half- lives for monoclonal antibodies or other biologicals
  • Approximately four weeks prior to randomization, the use of any drug or treatment known for the potential to cause major organ system toxicity, i.e. drugs that may require periodic safety monitoring of a specific organ or body fluid. Examples include, but are not limited to clozapine, cancer medical treatment like tamoxifen, systemic immunosuppressive drugs like methotrexate or interferon, or other immunosuppressive biological medicines for rheumatic diseases or multiple sclerosis
  • A positive drug screen, if, in the investigator's opinion, this is due to drug abuse or dependence.
  • Significant ECG findings that are assessed as clinically significant by the investigator (e.g. sustained ventricular tachycardia, significant second or third degree atrioventricular block without a pacemaker, long QT syndrome or clinically meaningful prolonged QT interval).
  • Contraindication to lumbar puncture including use of anti-coagulants, low platelet count, history of back surgery (with the exception of microdiscectomy or laminectomy over one level), signs or symptoms of intracranial pressure, spinal deformities or other spinal conditions that in the judgment of the investigator would preclude a lumbar puncture
  • History of or active hepatitis or HIV infection (based on a positive lab result for HBV and/or HIV, to be performed during screening
  • Severe renal impairment
  • Severe hepatic impairment
  • Significant cardiac disease including recent (within six months) myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure or unstable angina
  • Female subjects who are pregnant or currently breastfeeding.

Sites / Locations

  • Memory and Aging Program, Butler HospitalRecruiting

Arms of the Study

Arm 1

Arm 2

Arm Type

Active Comparator

Placebo Comparator

Arm Label

Group 1

Group 2

Arm Description

25 MCI and mild to moderate AD subjects

10 MCI and mild to moderate AD subjects

Outcomes

Primary Outcome Measures

Number of participants with treatment emergent adverse events (TEAE's) in the treatment group will be compared to the placebo group
Number of participants with treatment emergent adverse events and serious adverse events as assessed by CTCAE (Version 4.03).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Change from baseline in key inflammatory biomarkers; Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), Interleukin 1-beta (IL-1β), and Interferon-alpha (IFN-α)
Blood draws will be taken from baseline to the follow up study visit. Inflammation and discovery research assays to detect levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IFN-α will be performed at Brown University.
Change in Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) Total Scores
To determine changes of the MMSE scores from the screening phase to 6 months after first treatment.
Change from baseline in Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR)
To determine changes of CDR scores from screening phase to 6 months after first treatment.
Change from baseline in Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive (ADAS-Cog -13)
To determine changes in ADAS-Cog scores from screening phase to 6 months after first treatment.
Change from baseline in Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study-Activities of Daily Living (ADCS-ADL)
To determine changes in ADCS-ADL scores from screening phase to 6 months after first treatment.
Change from baseline in Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test (FCSRT+IR) with delayed recall
To determine changes in FCSRT+IR with delayed recall from screening phase to 6 months after first treatment.
Change from baseline in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) phosphorylated tau/amyloid beta 42 (pTau/Aβ42) ratios
To determine changes in pTau/Aβ42 ratios from the screening phase to 6 months after first treatment.

Full Information

First Posted
June 15, 2020
Last Updated
June 5, 2023
Sponsor
Butler Hospital
Collaborators
Alzheimer's Association, Brown University, The Miriam Hospital
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1. Study Identification

Unique Protocol Identification Number
NCT04500847
Brief Title
Repurposing Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors for Treatment of AD
Acronym
LINE-AD
Official Title
Repurposing Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors for Treatment of AD
Study Type
Interventional

2. Study Status

Record Verification Date
June 2023
Overall Recruitment Status
Recruiting
Study Start Date
December 17, 2021 (Actual)
Primary Completion Date
March 31, 2024 (Anticipated)
Study Completion Date
March 31, 2024 (Anticipated)

3. Sponsor/Collaborators

Responsible Party, by Official Title
Principal Investigator
Name of the Sponsor
Butler Hospital
Collaborators
Alzheimer's Association, Brown University, The Miriam Hospital

4. Oversight

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product
Yes
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product
No
Data Monitoring Committee
Yes

5. Study Description

Brief Summary
This is a randomized, double-blind clinical trial of a daily oral dose of 200 mg emtricitabine vs. placebo in 35 participants with biomarker-confirmed MCI or mild to moderate dementia due to Alzheimer's disease. Study duration for each subject participating in the placebo-controlled research study will be approximately 12 months (up to a 3 months Screening Period, Baseline visit (1 month), 6 months of placebo or emtricitabine dosing, and 1 month follow-up). Participants will have up to 2 months to complete all procedures for the month 6 study visit.
Detailed Description
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a devastating and increasingly frequent neurological disorder whose onset is strongly correlated with advanced age. Between 2000 and 2017 deaths from AD have increased 145%, and AD has become the 6th leading cause of death in the USA. Unfortunately, in spite of immense research and clinical efforts spanning several decades, cures have been elusive. This has prompted searches for new mechanisms of disease and new targets of therapy. One such direction is inflammation: aging and many age-associated diseases are believed to be causally linked with a chronic inflammatory state. The brain is no exception, and the presence of inflammation in the AD brain establishes an environment that is hostile for the function and survival of neurons. While it is not yet clear whether inflammation is the root cause of AD, it is increasingly believed that alleviating these inflammatory processes might slow down the progression of the disease. This research study will test to determine if the inflammatory state can be alleviated with a class of drugs known as nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). NRTIs were developed to treat Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) caused by infection with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Investigators hypothesize that NRTI drugs, by inhibiting neuroinflammation, may be effective in the treatment of AD. The primary goal of this trial will be to assess safety and tolerability of Emtriva in a geriatric population of individuals diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment or early AD. This study will be conducted in subjects with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD), including subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Subjects must be positive for amyloid pathology. Subjects must be 50 to 85 years old, and apart from the clinical diagnosis of early AD, in good health as determined by the Investigator based on their medical history. Participants must be HIV/HBV negative and pass all the screening assessments based on the inclusion/exclusion criteria.

6. Conditions and Keywords

Primary Disease or Condition Being Studied in the Trial, or the Focus of the Study
Alzheimer Disease, Early Onset, Mild Cognitive Impairment, Moderate Dementia

7. Study Design

Primary Purpose
Treatment
Study Phase
Phase 1
Interventional Study Model
Parallel Assignment
Masking
ParticipantCare ProviderInvestigatorOutcomes Assessor
Masking Description
The pharmacist will not be masked. All investigators will be masked until the end of the study.
Allocation
Randomized
Enrollment
35 (Anticipated)

8. Arms, Groups, and Interventions

Arm Title
Group 1
Arm Type
Active Comparator
Arm Description
25 MCI and mild to moderate AD subjects
Arm Title
Group 2
Arm Type
Placebo Comparator
Arm Description
10 MCI and mild to moderate AD subjects
Intervention Type
Drug
Intervention Name(s)
Emtriva Capsule
Other Intervention Name(s)
Emtricitabine
Intervention Description
200mg daily oral dose
Intervention Type
Drug
Intervention Name(s)
Placebo
Other Intervention Name(s)
Capsule manufactured to mimic Emtriva
Intervention Description
200mg daily oral dose
Primary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Number of participants with treatment emergent adverse events (TEAE's) in the treatment group will be compared to the placebo group
Description
Number of participants with treatment emergent adverse events and serious adverse events as assessed by CTCAE (Version 4.03).
Time Frame
Baseline to the follow up study visit (7-8 months after first treatment)
Secondary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Change from baseline in key inflammatory biomarkers; Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), Interleukin 1-beta (IL-1β), and Interferon-alpha (IFN-α)
Description
Blood draws will be taken from baseline to the follow up study visit. Inflammation and discovery research assays to detect levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IFN-α will be performed at Brown University.
Time Frame
Baseline to the follow up study visit (7-8 months after first treatment)
Title
Change in Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) Total Scores
Description
To determine changes of the MMSE scores from the screening phase to 6 months after first treatment.
Time Frame
Screening phase, month 3 and month 6 after first treatment
Title
Change from baseline in Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR)
Description
To determine changes of CDR scores from screening phase to 6 months after first treatment.
Time Frame
Screening phase, month 3 and 6 months after first treatment
Title
Change from baseline in Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive (ADAS-Cog -13)
Description
To determine changes in ADAS-Cog scores from screening phase to 6 months after first treatment.
Time Frame
Screening phase, month 3 and month 6 after first treatment
Title
Change from baseline in Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study-Activities of Daily Living (ADCS-ADL)
Description
To determine changes in ADCS-ADL scores from screening phase to 6 months after first treatment.
Time Frame
Screening phase, month 3 and month 6 after first treatment
Title
Change from baseline in Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test (FCSRT+IR) with delayed recall
Description
To determine changes in FCSRT+IR with delayed recall from screening phase to 6 months after first treatment.
Time Frame
Screening phase, month 3 and month 6 after first treatment
Title
Change from baseline in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) phosphorylated tau/amyloid beta 42 (pTau/Aβ42) ratios
Description
To determine changes in pTau/Aβ42 ratios from the screening phase to 6 months after first treatment.
Time Frame
Screening phase to month 6-7 after first treatment

10. Eligibility

Sex
All
Minimum Age & Unit of Time
50 Years
Maximum Age & Unit of Time
85 Years
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Male or female, ages 50-85 years inclusive Intellectually, visually and auditory capable, fluent in, and able to read, the language in which study assessments are administered (e.g. completion of at least six years of regular schooling or sustained employment or equivalent local level of knowledge). Must meet NIA-AA research criteria for MCI and mild dementia due to AD Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE) 15-30 inclusive Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) 0.5 - 2 Must meet a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pTau/Aβ42 ratio of > 0.024 Participants must have an appropriate study partner who agrees to participate in the study and who is intellectually, visually, and auditory capable, and fluent in, and able to read, the language in which study assessments are administered. Additionally, the study partner must be capable of and willing to: Accompany the participant to visits that requires the input of the study partner Concurrent treatment with cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine are permitted on a stable dose for at least 60 days prior to baseline. Exclusion Criteria: Current medical or neurological condition that might impact cognition or performance on cognitive assessments, e.g., Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, syphilis, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, active major depression, attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD), multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), active seizure disorder, current alcohol/drug abuse or dependence, or dependence within the last two years, or history of traumatic brain injury associated with loss of consciousness and ongoing residual transient or permanent neurological signs/symptoms including cognitive deficits, and/or associated with skull fracture Brain MRI results showing findings unrelated to AD that, in the opinion of the investigator might be a leading cause of future cognitive decline, might pose a risk to the participant, or might confound MRI assessment for safety monitoring Score "yes" on item four or item five of the Suicidal Ideation section of the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (eC-SSRS patient-reported outcome), if this ideation occurred in the past six months, or "yes" on any item of the Suicidal Behavior section, except for the "Non-Suicidal Self-Injurious Behavior" (item is included in the Suicidal Behavior section), if this behavior occurred in the past 2 years prior to screening Use of other investigational drugs prior to screening until: Small molecules: after five half-lives, or within 30 days until the expected pharmacodynamic effect has returned to baseline, whichever is longer Biologicals: blood concentration has returned to baseline (or below serological responder threshold) for antibodies induced by active immunotherapy; or five half- lives for monoclonal antibodies or other biologicals Approximately four weeks prior to randomization, the use of any drug or treatment known for the potential to cause major organ system toxicity, i.e. drugs that may require periodic safety monitoring of a specific organ or body fluid. Examples include, but are not limited to clozapine, cancer medical treatment like tamoxifen, systemic immunosuppressive drugs like methotrexate or interferon, or other immunosuppressive biological medicines for rheumatic diseases or multiple sclerosis A positive drug screen, if, in the investigator's opinion, this is due to drug abuse or dependence. Significant ECG findings that are assessed as clinically significant by the investigator (e.g. sustained ventricular tachycardia, significant second or third degree atrioventricular block without a pacemaker, long QT syndrome or clinically meaningful prolonged QT interval). Contraindication to lumbar puncture including use of anti-coagulants, low platelet count, history of back surgery (with the exception of microdiscectomy or laminectomy over one level), signs or symptoms of intracranial pressure, spinal deformities or other spinal conditions that in the judgment of the investigator would preclude a lumbar puncture History of or active hepatitis or HIV infection (based on a positive lab result for HBV and/or HIV, to be performed during screening Severe renal impairment Severe hepatic impairment Significant cardiac disease including recent (within six months) myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure or unstable angina Female subjects who are pregnant or currently breastfeeding.
Central Contact Person:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name or Official Title & Degree
Meghan Riddle, MD
Phone
(401) 455-6403
Email
MRiddle@butler.org
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name or Official Title & Degree
Joslynn Faustino, PhD
Phone
(401) 455-6403
Email
JFaustino@butler.org
Overall Study Officials:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Meghan Riddle, MD
Organizational Affiliation
Butler Hospital
Official's Role
Principal Investigator
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
John Sedivy, PhD
Organizational Affiliation
Brown University
Official's Role
Principal Investigator
Facility Information:
Facility Name
Memory and Aging Program, Butler Hospital
City
Providence
State/Province
Rhode Island
ZIP/Postal Code
02906
Country
United States
Individual Site Status
Recruiting
Facility Contact:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Meghan Riddle, MD
Phone
401-455-6403
Email
MRiddle@butler.org
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Denise Jerue, RN
Phone
401 455-6403
Email
DJerue@butler.org

12. IPD Sharing Statement

Plan to Share IPD
No
Citations:
PubMed Identifier
34670118
Citation
Ramirez P, Zuniga G, Sun W, Beckmann A, Ochoa E, DeVos SL, Hyman B, Chiu G, Roy ER, Cao W, Orr M, Buggia-Prevot V, Ray WJ, Frost B. Pathogenic tau accelerates aging-associated activation of transposable elements in the mouse central nervous system. Prog Neurobiol. 2022 Jan;208:102181. doi: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2021.102181. Epub 2021 Oct 17.
Results Reference
derived

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Repurposing Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors for Treatment of AD

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