A Pivotal Study of N-Acetyl-L-Leucine on Niemann-Pick Disease Type C

Overview

About this study

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate that N-Acetyl-L-Leucine is effective in improving symptoms, functioning, and quality of life against the defined endpoints in patients with Niemann-Pick Disease Type C (NPC) for the purpose of establishing the benefit/risk balance of the investigational medicinal product (IB1001) in the proposed clinical setting.

Participation eligibility

Participant eligibility includes age, gender, type and stage of disease, and previous treatments or health concerns. Guidelines differ from study to study, and identify who can or cannot participate. There is no guarantee that every individual who qualifies and wants to participate in a trial will be enrolled. Contact the study team to discuss study eligibility and potential participation.

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Written informed consent signed by the patient and/or their legal representative/ parent/impartial witness
  • Male or female aged ≥4 years with a confirmed genetic diagnosis of NPC at the time of- signing informed consent
  • Females of childbearing potential, defined as a premenopausal female capable of becoming pregnant, will be included if they are either sexually inactive (sexually abstinent for 14 days prior to the first dose and confirm to continue through 28 days after the last dose) or using one of the following highly effective contraceptives (i.e., results in < 1% failure rate when used consistently and correctly) 14 days prior to the first dose continuing through 28 days after the last dose:
    • intrauterine device (IUD);
    • surgical sterilization of the partner (vasectomy for 6 months minimum);
    • combined (estrogen or progestogen containing) hormonal contraception associated with the inhibition of ovulation (either oral, intravaginal, or transdermal);
    • progestogen only hormonal contraception associated with the inhibition of ovulation (either oral, injectable, or implantable);
    • intrauterine hormone releasing system (IUS);
    • bilateral tubal occlusion.
  • Females of non-childbearing potential who have undergone one of the following sterilization procedures at least 6 months prior to the first dose:
    • hysteroscopic sterilization;
    • bilateral tubal ligation or bilateral salpingectomy;
    • hysterectomy;
    • bilateral oophorectomy; OR
    • e postmenopausal with amenorrhea for at least 1 year prior to the first dose and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) serum levels consistent with postmenopausal status.
  • FSH analysis for postmenopausal women will be done at screening. FSH levels should be in the postmenopausal range as determined by the central laboratory.
  • Non-vasectomized male patient agrees to use a condom with spermicide or abstain from sexual intercourse during the study until 90 days beyond the last dose of study medication and the female partner agrees to comply with inclusion criteria 3 or 4.
  • For a vasectomized male who has had his vasectomy 6 months or more prior to study start, it is required that they use a condom during sexual intercourse. A male who has been vasectomized less than 6 months prior to study start must follow the same restrictions as a non-vasectomized male.
  • If male, patient agrees not to donate sperm from the first dose until 90 days after their last dose.
  • Patients must fall within:
    • A SARA score of 7 ≤ X ≤ 34 points (out of 40); AND either
    • Within the 2-7 range (0-8 range) of the Gait subtest of the SARA scale; OR
    • Be able to perform the 9-Hole Peg Test with Dominant Hand (9HPT-D) (SCAFI subtest) in 20 ≤  x ≤ 150 seconds.
  • Weight ≥15 kg at screening.
  • Patients are willing to disclose their existing medications/therapies for (the symptoms) of NPC, including those on the prohibited medication list. Non-prohibited medications/therapies (authorized medicines for NPC [e.g. miglustat], speech therapy, and physiotherapy) are permitted provided:
    • The Investigator does not believe the medication/therapy will interfere with the study protocol/results;
    • Patients have been on a stable dose/duration and type of therapy for at least 42 days before Visit 1 (Baseline 1);
    • Patients are willing to maintain a stable dose/do not change their therapy throughout the duration of the study.
  • An understanding of the implications of study participation, provided in the written patient information and informed consent by patients or their legal representative/parent, and demonstrates a willingness to comply with instructions and attend required study visits (for children this criterion will also be assessed in parents or appointed guardians).

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients who have any known hypersensitivity or history of hypersensitivity to:
    • Acetyl-Leucine (DL-, L-, D-) or derivatives;
    • Excipients of the IB1001 sachet (namely isomalt, hypromellose, and strawberry flavour);
    • Excipients of the placebo sachet (namely isomalt, hypromellose, strawberry flavour, citric acid, microcrystalline cellulose, lactose, denatonium benzoate).
  • Simultaneous participation in another clinical study or participation in any clinical study involving administration of an investigational medicinal product (IMP; ‘study drug’) for at least 42 days prior to Visit 1. At the discretion of the investigator, Medical Monitor, and Sponsor, the washout period for specific IMPs may be longer based on the pharmacological activity and pharmacokinetics of the drug.
  • Patients with a physical or psychiatric condition which, at the investigator’s discretion and in consultation with the Medical Monitor and Sponsor (as applicable), may put the patient at risk, may confound the study results, or may interfere with the patient’s participation in the clinical study; i.e., reliably perform study assessments.
  • Known or persistent use, misuse, or dependency of medication, drugs, or alcohol.
  • Current or planned pregnancy or women who are breastfeeding.
  • Patients with severe vision or hearing impairment (that is not corrected by glasses or hearing aids) that, at the investigator’s discretion, interferes with their ability to perform study assessments.
  • Patients who have been diagnosed with arthritis or other musculoskeletal disorders affecting joints, muscles, ligaments, and/or nerves that by themselves affects patient’s mobility and, at the investigator’s discretion, interferes with their ability to perform study assessments.
  • Patients unwilling and/or not able to undergo a 42-day washout period from any of the following prohibited medication prior to Visit 1 (Baseline 1) and remain without prohibited medication through Visit 6.
    • N-Acetyl-DL-Leucine (e.g., Tanganil®);
    • N-Acetyl-L-Leucine (prohibited if not provided as IMP in the IB1001-301 trial);
    • Sulfasalazine;
    • Rosuvastatin.

Eligibility last updated 2/17/22. Questions regarding updates should be directed to the study team contact.

Participating Mayo Clinic locations

Study statuses change often. Please contact the study team for the most up-to-date information regarding possible participation.

Mayo Clinic Location Status Contact

Rochester, Minn.

Mayo Clinic principal investigator

Anthony Fine, M.D.

Contact us for the latest status

Contact information:

Bridget Neja C.N.A.

(507) 266-9150

Neja.Bridget@mayo.edu

More information

Publications

  • To investigate the safety and efficacy of N-acetyl-L-leucine (NALL) on symptoms, functioning, and quality of life in pediatric (≥ 6 years) and adult Niemann-Pick disease type C (NPC) patients. Read More on PubMed
  • Acetyl-dl-leucine is a derivative of the branched chain amino acid leucine. In observational clinical studies, acetyl-dl-leucine improved symptoms of ataxia, in particular in patients with the lysosomal storage disorder, Niemann-Pick disease type C1. Here, we investigated acetyl-dl-leucine and its enantiomers acetyl-l-leucine and acetyl-d-leucine in symptomatic mice and observed improvement in ataxia with both individual enantiomers and acetyl-dl-leucine. When acetyl-dl-leucine and acetyl-l-leucine were administered pre-symptomatically to mice, both treatments delayed disease progression and extended life span, whereas acetyl-d-leucine did not. These data are consistent with acetyl-l-leucine being the neuroprotective enantiomer. Altered glucose and antioxidant metabolism were implicated as one of the potential mechanisms of action of the l-enantiomer in mice. When the standard of care drug miglustat and acetyl-dl-leucine were used in combination significant synergy resulted. In agreement with these pre-clinical data, when Niemann-Pick disease type C1 patients were evaluated after 12 months of acetyl-dl-leucine treatment, rates of disease progression were slowed, with stabilization or improvement in multiple neurological domains. A beneficial effect of acetyl-dl-leucine on gait was also observed in this study in a mouse model of GM2 gangliosidosis (Sandhoff disease) and in Tay-Sachs and Sandhoff disease patients in individual-cases of off-label-use. Taken together, we have identified an unanticipated neuroprotective effect of acetyl-l-leucine and underlying mechanisms of action in lysosomal storage diseases, supporting its further evaluation in clinical trials in lysosomal disorders. Read More on PubMed
  • Niemann-Pick disease type C (NPC) is a lysosomal storage disease with a heterogeneous neurodegenerative clinical course. Multiple therapies are in clinical trials and inclusion criteria are currently mainly based on age and neurological signs, not taking into consideration differential individual rates of disease progression. Read More on PubMed