<clinical_study>
  <!-- This xml conforms to an XML Schema at:
    https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/html/images/info/public.xsd -->
  <required_header>
    <download_date>ClinicalTrials.gov processed this data on September 20, 2023</download_date>
    <link_text>Link to the current ClinicalTrials.gov record.</link_text>
    <url>https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03764215</url>
  </required_header>
  <id_info>
    <org_study_id>2017-0440</org_study_id>
    <nct_id>NCT03764215</nct_id>
  </id_info>
  <brief_title>Nilotinib in Huntington's Disease</brief_title>
  <acronym>Tasigna HD</acronym>
  <official_title>An Open Label, Phase Ib Study to Evaluate the Impact of Low Doses of Nilotinib Treatment on Safety, Tolerability and Biomarkers in Huntington's Disease</official_title>
  <sponsors>
    <lead_sponsor>
      <agency>Georgetown University</agency>
      <agency_class>Other</agency_class>
    </lead_sponsor>
  </sponsors>
  <source>Georgetown University</source>
  <oversight_info>
    <has_dmc>Yes</has_dmc>
    <is_fda_regulated_drug>Yes</is_fda_regulated_drug>
    <is_fda_regulated_device>No</is_fda_regulated_device>
  </oversight_info>
  <brief_summary>
    <textblock>
      Based on strong pre-clinical evidence of the effects of Nilotinib on neurodegenerative&#xD;
      pathologies, including autophagic clearance of neurotoxic proteins, neurotransmitters&#xD;
      (dopamine and glutamate), immunity and behavior, the investigators conducted an open label&#xD;
      pilot clinical trial in mid-to-advanced PD with dementia (PDD) and Dementia with Lewy Bodies&#xD;
      (DLB) (stage 3-4) patients. Participants (N=12) were randomized 1:1 to once daily oral dose&#xD;
      of 150mg and 300mg Nilotinib for 6 months. The investigators data suggests that Nilotinib&#xD;
      penetrates the brain and inhibits CSF Abelson (Abl) activity via reduction of phosphorylated&#xD;
      Abl in agreement with pre-clinical data. Several studies suggest that CSF alpha-Synuclein and&#xD;
      Abeta42 are decreased and CSF total Tau and p-Tau are increased in PD and DLB. The&#xD;
      investigators data shows attenuation of loss of CSF alpha-Synuclein and Abeta40/42 with 300mg&#xD;
      (50% of the CML dose) compared to 150mg Nilotinib after 6 months treatment. CSF homovanillic&#xD;
      acid (HVA), which is a by-product of dopamine metabolism, is significantly increased; and CSF&#xD;
      total Tau and p-Tau are significantly reduced (N=5, P&lt;0.05) with 300mg Nilotinib between&#xD;
      baseline and 6 months treatment. Despite the reduction of L-Dopa replacement therapies in our&#xD;
      study, the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UDPRS) I-IV scores improved with 150mg&#xD;
      (3.5 points) and 300mg (11 points) from baseline to 6 months and worsened (13.7 points and&#xD;
      11.4 points) after 3 months withdrawal of 150mg and 300mg, respectively. Other non-motor&#xD;
      functions e.g. constipation was resolved in all patients and cognition was also improved (3.5&#xD;
      points) using both the Mini-Mental Status Exam (MMSE) or the Scales for Outcomes in&#xD;
      Parkinson's Disease-Cognition (SCOPA-Cog) between baseline and 6 months. MMSE scores returned&#xD;
      to baseline after 3 months of Nilotinib withdrawal. These data are very compelling to&#xD;
      evaluate the effects of Nilotinib in an open label proof-of-concept study in patients with&#xD;
      HD.&#xD;
    </textblock>
  </brief_summary>
  <detailed_description>
    <textblock>
      The investigators performed an open label phase I clinical trial using two commercially&#xD;
      available doses of Nilotinib (150 and 300mg capsules) in patients with advanced PDD and DLB.&#xD;
      These indications have some overlapping pathologies and clinical symptoms and share common&#xD;
      plasma and CSF biomarkers, including alpha-Synuclein, Abeta42/40, total Tau and p-Tau. The&#xD;
      investigators obtained preliminary data showing that Nilotinib crosses the BBB and is&#xD;
      detected in the CSF, suggesting Abl inhibition and downstream target engagement&#xD;
      (alpha-Synuclein, Tau and Abeta) in the CNS (pharmacodynamics). Nilotinib increased CSF HVA&#xD;
      levels as a downstream biomarker of dopamine metabolism. These data provide feasibility to&#xD;
      test Nilotinib in a phase Ib clinical trial to demonstrate safety, tolerability and changes&#xD;
      in disease biomarkers in patients with HD. The Huntingtin gene provides the genetic&#xD;
      information for a protein that is also called &quot;huntingtin&quot; (Htt). Expansion of CAG&#xD;
      (cytosineadenine-guanine) triplet repeats in the gene coding for the Huntingtin protein&#xD;
      results in an abnormal protein, mutant Htt (mHTT), which gradually leads to protein&#xD;
      accumulation within neurons and neuronal cell damage. Based on preclinical and clinical&#xD;
      studies, the investigators hypothesize that Nilotinib will be safe and tolerable in&#xD;
      individuals with HD. The level of HVA is significantly reduced in HD patients compared to&#xD;
      controls (22), and the investigators expect Nilotinib to increase HVA levels. Nilotinib may&#xD;
      also affect CSF level of total Huntingtin proteins and cell death markers, including NSE and&#xD;
      S100B. The investigators further hypothesize that the investigators may see evidence of&#xD;
      change in cognitive, motor or behavioral outcomes that will help us to build a better&#xD;
      clinical development program going forward.&#xD;
&#xD;
      Neurodegenerative diseases, including HD, are a group of genetic and sporadic disorders&#xD;
      associated with neuronal death and progressive nervous system dysfunction. Cancer is also a&#xD;
      collection of related genetic diseases, in which cells begin to divide without stopping and&#xD;
      spread into surrounding tissues. Unlike neurodegeneration, in which no regeneration happens&#xD;
      when damaged or aging postmitotic neurons die, damaged cells survive when they should die in&#xD;
      cancer, resulting in uncontrolled mitotic cell division to form tumors. Cancerous tumors are&#xD;
      malignant as they spread or invade nearby tissues by cellular contiguity or metastasize via&#xD;
      blood and/or humoral transport. In neurodegeneration, the spread of disease by contiguity is&#xD;
      supported by the hypotheses that toxic or &quot;prion-like&quot; proteins propagate along&#xD;
      neuroanatomical pathways leading to progressive spread of disease and cell death. In&#xD;
      neurodegeneration, failure of cellular quality control mechanisms leads to inadequate protein&#xD;
      degradation via the proteasome or autophagy, resulting in intracellular accumulation of&#xD;
      neurotoxic proteins. Consequently, these proteins are secreted from a pre-synaptic neuron and&#xD;
      can traverse the synaptic cleft and enter a contiguous post-synaptic neuron. Secreted&#xD;
      proteins may not penetrate an adjacent cell via the synapse but they may be re-routed into&#xD;
      the cell and recycled via the endosomal system to fuse with autophagic vacuoles like the&#xD;
      autophagosome or the lysosome. Microglia, the brain resident immune cells may also&#xD;
      phagocytose and destroy toxic proteins. Accumulation of neurotoxic proteins, including&#xD;
      alpha-Synuclein (Lewy bodies), beta-amyloid plaques, Tau tangles, Huntingtin, prions and&#xD;
      TDP-43 are major culprits in neurodegeneration. These toxic proteins trigger progressive&#xD;
      apoptotic cell death leading to loss of many central nervous system (CNS) functions,&#xD;
      including mentation, cognition, language, movement, gastrointestinal motility, sleep and many&#xD;
      others. The discoveries of toxic protein propagation from cell to cell, leading to&#xD;
      progression of neurodegeneration triggered a series of pre-clinical and clinical studies to&#xD;
      limit protein propagation via antibodies (active and passive immune therapies) that can&#xD;
      capture the protein and destroy it en route to healthy neurons. This approach is fraught with&#xD;
      difficulties, including failure to arrest neurocognitive decline and brain&#xD;
      edema/inflammation. Manipulation of autophagy is a novel therapeutic approach that focuses on&#xD;
      degradation of neurotoxic proteins at the manufacturing site in order to prevent their&#xD;
      secretion and propagation. This novel strategy leads to unclogging the cell's disposal&#xD;
      machine and degradation of toxic proteins, thus preserving neuronal survival via bulk&#xD;
      digestion of abnormal proteins. Preservation of neuronal survival maintains the level of&#xD;
      neurotransmitters that are necessary for cognitive, motor and other CNS functions, leading to&#xD;
      alleviation of symptoms as well as arrest of neurodegeneration. As neurons are post-mitotic&#xD;
      cells, pulsatile autophagy may promote protein degradation and provide an effective&#xD;
      disease-modifying therapy for neurodegenerative diseases. Autophagy is a double-edged sword&#xD;
      in cancer, either preventing accumulation of damaged proteins and organelles to suppress&#xD;
      tumors, or promoting cell survival mechanisms that lead to tumor growth and proliferation.&#xD;
      Leukemia and many other cancer treatments have been revolutionized by manipulation of&#xD;
      autophagy, which leads to bulk degradation of unwanted or toxic molecules. For example in&#xD;
      leukemia, genetic mutations and DNA damage can lead to large numbers of abnormal white blood&#xD;
      cells (leukemia cells and leukemic blast cells) to accumulate in the blood and bone marrow,&#xD;
      crowding out normal blood cells. Autophagy can lead to the degradation of the products of&#xD;
      cancer-causing genes (oncogenes), tumor suppressor genes, damaged DNA and essential&#xD;
      components of the cytosol, thereby controlling abnormal mitotic division and limiting tumor&#xD;
      growth. Autophagy can also lead to self-cannibalization via promotion of programmed cell&#xD;
      death, or apoptosis. Activation of the tumor suppressor p53 in response to DNA damage leads&#xD;
      the cell to arrest proliferation, initiate DNA repair, and promote survival. However, if the&#xD;
      DNA damage cannot be resolved by p53, it can trigger apoptotic death. Cell division and&#xD;
      apoptosis are mediated by signaling mechanisms via the endosomal (early and recycling)&#xD;
      system. Tyrosine kinases are activated via auto phosphorylation, triggering various signaling&#xD;
      mechanisms that mediate cell division and/or apoptosis. Tyrosine kinase inhibition via&#xD;
      de-phosphorylation leads to signaling via the late endosomal-lysosomal pathway, thus&#xD;
      increasing autophagic degradation and tumor growth. TKIs have significantly improved the life&#xD;
      quality and expectancies in many cancers, including CML. CML is characterized by the&#xD;
      translocation of chromosomes 9 and 22 to form the &quot;Philadelphia&quot; chromosome resulting in the&#xD;
      expression of a constitutively active Breakpoint Cluster Region-Abelson (BCR-Abl) tyrosine&#xD;
      kinase. This oncogenic protein activates intracellular signaling pathways and induces cell&#xD;
      proliferation. Our laboratory investigated TKIs that activate autophagy and are FDA-approved&#xD;
      for CML, thus significantly reducing research and development efforts and cost by&#xD;
      re-purposing for new indications. Abl is activated in neurodegeneration. A fraction of&#xD;
      Nilotinib crosses the blood-brain-barrier (BBB), inhibits Abl and facilitates autophagic&#xD;
      amyloid clearance, leading to neuroprotection and improved cognition and motor behavior. Mice&#xD;
      treated with a much lower dose of these drugs (&lt;25% of the typical CML dose) show significant&#xD;
      motor and cognitive improvement and degradation of alpha-Synuclein, beta-amyloid, Tau and&#xD;
      TDP-43 without evidence of increased inflammation. There was also significant reversal of&#xD;
      neurotransmitter alterations, including dopamine and glutamate in several models of&#xD;
      neurodegeneration. As a modulator of myeloid cells, Nilotinib may also positively regulate&#xD;
      neuronal death and produce neuro-restorative effects via increased production of necessary&#xD;
      growth factors and proliferation of myeloid-derived glia. Autophagic toxic protein clearance&#xD;
      and production of growth factors may restore loss of neurotransmitters, leading to improved&#xD;
      motor and cognitive functions. Nilotinib provides a double-edge sword via manipulation of&#xD;
      autophagy to inhibit cell division and tumor growth in CML on one hand, and promote toxic&#xD;
      protein degradation and neuronal survival in neurodegeneration on the other hand. The&#xD;
      investigators propose to perform an open label, Phase Ib, proof of concept study to evaluate&#xD;
      the impact of low doses of Nilotinib treatment on safety, tolerability and biomarkers in&#xD;
      participants with HD. The investigators propose an adaptive design based on safety and&#xD;
      tolerability of 150mg Nilotinib treatment for 3 months. The investigators will first enroll&#xD;
      10 participants who will receive an oral dose of 150mg Nilotinib once daily (group 1) for 3&#xD;
      months. If these participants tolerate 150mg dose of Nilotinib, i.e. with no exacerbation of&#xD;
      chorea and behavioral symptoms and no other AEs (i.e. myelosuppression, QTc prolongation,&#xD;
      liver/pancreatic toxicity, etc ), an additional 10 new HD participants (group 2) will be&#xD;
      enrolled to evaluate the effects of 300 mg dose of Nilotinib for 3 months. The investigators&#xD;
      will then compare baseline with the effects of 3-months Nilotinib treatment within each group&#xD;
      and between groups (1 and 2). Participants (group 1 and 2) will return for a follow up visit&#xD;
      one month after the termination of 3-months treatment with Nilotinib and results will&#xD;
      compared to baseline visits and end of study visits. Ten (10) participants will receive an&#xD;
      oral dose of 150mg Nilotinib once daily for 3 months (group 1). If this dose is tolerated&#xD;
      another 10 participants will receive an oral dose of 300mg Nilotinib once daily (group 2) for&#xD;
      3 months.&#xD;
    </textblock>
  </detailed_description>
  <overall_status>Unknown status</overall_status>
  <last_known_status>Recruiting</last_known_status>
  <start_date type="Actual">November 15, 2018</start_date>
  <completion_date type="Anticipated">November 30, 2020</completion_date>
  <primary_completion_date type="Anticipated">November 30, 2020</primary_completion_date>
  <phase>Phase 1</phase>
  <study_type>Interventional</study_type>
  <study_design_info>
    <intervention_model>Sequential Assignment</intervention_model>
    <intervention_model_description>Ten (10) participants will receive an oral dose of 150mg Nilotinib once daily for 3 months (group 1). If this dose is tolerated another 10 participants will receive an oral dose of 300mg Nilotinib once daily (group 2) for 3 months.</intervention_model_description>
    <primary_purpose>Treatment</primary_purpose>
    <masking>None (Open Label)</masking>
    <masking_description>We propose to perform an open label, Phase Ib, proof of concept study to evaluate the impact of low doses of Nilotinib treatment on safety, tolerability and biomarkers in participants with HD. We propose an adaptive design based on safety and tolerability of 150mg Nilotinib treatment for 3 months. We will first enroll 10 participants who will receive an oral dose of 150mg Nilotinib once daily (group 1) for 3 months. If these participants tolerate 150mg dose of Nilotinib, an additional 10 new HD participants (group 2) will be enrolled to evaluate the effects of 300 mg dose of Nilotinib for 3 months. We will then compare baseline with the effects of 3-months Nilotinib treatment within each group and between groups (1 and 2). Participants (group 1 and 2) will return for a follow up visit one month after the termination of 3-months treatment with Nilotinib and results will compared to baseline visits and end of study visits.</masking_description>
  </study_design_info>
  <primary_outcome>
    <measure>Number of participants experiencing any Adverse events and Serious Adverse Events</measure>
    <time_frame>3 months</time_frame>
    <description>will be measured using the occurrence of adverse events (AEs) and serious adverse events (SAEs) deemed to be possibly, probably, or definitely related to the study drug. AEs of interest are defined as QTc prolongation, myelosuppression, hepatotoxicity and pancreatitis as listed in Table 1. These AEs will be tracked over the course of the trial and reviewed by the data and safety monitoring board (DSMB) at scheduled meetings and in real time. SAEs and AEs are known to be related to drug use at 800mg daily in cancer. A small safety trial using lower oral daily doses of 150 mg and 300 mg Nilotinib in 12 PD patients showed one cardiac SAE over a six-month treatment period. Based on preliminary clinical data, investigator's brochure (IB) and scheduled EKGs and lab tests, SAEs and AEs will be evaluated real-time and on case-by-case basis.</description>
  </primary_outcome>
  <primary_outcome>
    <measure>CSF levels of biomarkers linked to Disease symptoms Chorea and behavioral symptoms</measure>
    <time_frame>3 months</time_frame>
    <description>Prior studies from our group showed that Nilotinib treatment increases the CSF levels of HVA, suggesting alteration of dopamine level. We will evaluate the effects of potential changes of dopamine levels on Chorea and behavioral symptoms in HD participants. We will use an adaptive study design that will allow examination of the effects of 150mg Nilotinib once daily in 10 HD participants. If participants in this group do not exhibit worsening chorea or behavioral changes, then 300mg Niloitnib will be given to a new group of 10 additional participants. These potential AEs will be tracked over the course of the trial and reviewed by the DSMB at scheduled meetings and in real time.</description>
  </primary_outcome>
  <primary_outcome>
    <measure>Number of participants tolerating the drug by the ability of remaining on treatment</measure>
    <time_frame>3 months</time_frame>
    <description>for a given participant will be defined as the ability of participants to remain on treatment. Overall tolerability of the drug will be defined as an acceptable number of up to 25% discontinuations.</description>
  </primary_outcome>
  <number_of_arms>1</number_of_arms>
  <enrollment type="Anticipated">10</enrollment>
  <condition>Huntington Disease</condition>
  <arm_group>
    <arm_group_label>Group 1</arm_group_label>
    <arm_group_type>Experimental</arm_group_type>
    <description>Ten (10) participants will receive an oral dose of 150mg Nilotinib once daily for 3 months (group 1). If Nilotinib 150 mg per mouth daily dose is tolerated by the 1st group of 10 participants for 3 months, another 10 participants will receive an oral dose of 300mg Nilotinib once daily (group 2) for 3 months.</description>
  </arm_group>
  <intervention>
    <intervention_type>Drug</intervention_type>
    <intervention_name>Nilotinib 150 MG</intervention_name>
    <description>10 participants will receive an oral dose of 150mg Nilotinib once daily for 3 months (group 1). If this dose is tolerated another 10 participants will receive an oral dose of 300mg Nilotinib once daily (group 2) for 3 months.</description>
    <arm_group_label>Group 1</arm_group_label>
  </intervention>
  <eligibility>
    <criteria>
      <textblock>
        Inclusion Criteria:&#xD;
&#xD;
          -  Written informed consent&#xD;
&#xD;
          -  Capable of providing informed consent and complying with study procedures. Subjects&#xD;
             who are unable to provide consent may use a Legally Authorized Representative (LAR).&#xD;
&#xD;
          -  Patients between the age of 25-90 years, medically stable&#xD;
&#xD;
          -  Clinical diagnosis of HD with either a confirmed family history or positive CAG repeat&#xD;
             (CAG≥35)&#xD;
&#xD;
          -  MoCA ≥ 22&#xD;
&#xD;
          -  Able to perform the TMT-B in ≤240 seconds&#xD;
&#xD;
          -  Total Functional Capacity 7-12&#xD;
&#xD;
          -  Stable concomitant medical and/or psychiatric illnesses, in the judgement of the PI.&#xD;
&#xD;
          -  QTc interval 350-460 ms, inclusive&#xD;
&#xD;
          -  Participants must be willing to undergo LP at baseline and 3 months after treatment&#xD;
&#xD;
        Exclusion Criteria:&#xD;
&#xD;
          -  Patients with hypokalemia, hypomagnesaemia, or long QT syndrome- QTc≥461 ms&#xD;
&#xD;
          -  Concomitant drugs known to prolong the QTc interval and history of any cardiovascular&#xD;
             disease, including myocardial infarction or cardiac failure, angina, arrhythmia&#xD;
&#xD;
          -  History or presence of cardiac conditions including:&#xD;
&#xD;
               1. Cardiovascular or cerebrovascular event (e.g. myocardial infarction, unstable&#xD;
                  angina, or stroke)&#xD;
&#xD;
               2. Congestive heart failure&#xD;
&#xD;
               3. First, second- or third-degree atrioventricular block, sick sinus syndrome, or&#xD;
                  other serious cardiac rhythm disturbances&#xD;
&#xD;
               4. Any history of Torsade de Pointes&#xD;
&#xD;
          -  Treatment with any of the following drugs at the time of screening or the preceding 30&#xD;
             days, and/or planned use over the course of the trial:&#xD;
&#xD;
               1. Treatment with Class IA or III antiarrhythmic drugs (e.g. quinidine)&#xD;
&#xD;
               2. Treatment with QT prolonging drugs (www.crediblemeds.org)- excluding Selective&#xD;
                  Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) (e.g. Citalopram, Escitalopram, Paroxetine,&#xD;
                  Sertraline, Duloxetine, Trazodone, etc.)&#xD;
&#xD;
               3. Strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (including grapefruit juice). The concomitant use of&#xD;
                  strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g., ketoconazole, itraconazole, clarithromycin,&#xD;
                  atazanavir, indinavir, nefazodone, nelfinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir,&#xD;
                  telithromycin, voriconazole) must be avoided. Grapefruit products may also&#xD;
                  increase serum concentrations of Nilotinib. Should treatment with any of these&#xD;
                  agents be required, therapy with Nilotinib should be interrupted.&#xD;
&#xD;
               4. Anticoagulants, including Coumadin (warfarin), heparin, enoxaparin, daltiparin,&#xD;
                  xarelto, etc.&#xD;
&#xD;
               5. St. John's Wort and the concomitant use of strong other CYP3A4 inducers (e.g.,&#xD;
                  dexamethasone, phenytoin, carbamazepine, rifampin, rifabutin, rifapentine,&#xD;
                  phenobarbital) must be avoided since these agents may reduce the concentration of&#xD;
                  Nilotinib.&#xD;
&#xD;
          -  Abnormal liver function defined as AST and/or ALT &gt; 100% the upper limit of the normal&#xD;
&#xD;
          -  Renal insufficiency as defined by a serum creatinine &gt; 1.5 times the upper limit of&#xD;
             normal&#xD;
&#xD;
          -  History of HIV, clinically significant chronic hepatitis, or other active infection&#xD;
&#xD;
          -  Females must not be lactating, pregnant or with possible pregnancy&#xD;
&#xD;
          -  Medical history of liver or pancreatic disease&#xD;
&#xD;
          -  Clinical signs indicating syndromes other than idiopathic PD, including corticobasal&#xD;
             degeneration, supranuclear gaze palsy, multiple system atrophy, chronic traumatic&#xD;
             encephalopathy, signs of frontal dementia, history of stroke, head injury or&#xD;
             encephalitis, cerebellar signs, early severe autonomic involvement, Babinski sign&#xD;
&#xD;
             .Current evidence or history in past two years of epilepsy, focal brain lesion, head&#xD;
             injury with loss of consciousness or DSM-IV criteria for any active major psychiatric&#xD;
             disorder including psychosis, major depression, bipolar disorder, alcohol or substance&#xD;
             abuse&#xD;
&#xD;
          -  Evidence of any significant clinical disorder or laboratory finding that renders the&#xD;
             participant unsuitable for receiving an investigational drug including clinically&#xD;
             significant or unstable hematologic, hepatic, cardiovascular, pulmonary,&#xD;
             gastrointestinal, endocrine, metabolic, renal or other systemic disease or laboratory&#xD;
             abnormality&#xD;
&#xD;
          -  Active neoplastic disease, history of cancer five years prior to screening, including&#xD;
             breast cancer (history of skin melanoma or stable prostate cancer are not&#xD;
             exclusionary)&#xD;
&#xD;
          -  Contraindications to LP: prior lumbosacral spine surgery, severe degenerative joint&#xD;
             disease or deformity of the spine, platelets &lt; 100,000, use of Coumadin/warfarin, or&#xD;
             history of a bleeding disorder&#xD;
&#xD;
          -  Must not be on any immunosuppressant medications (e.g. IVig)&#xD;
&#xD;
          -  Must not be enrolled as an active participant in another clinical study&#xD;
      </textblock>
    </criteria>
    <gender>All</gender>
    <minimum_age>25 Years</minimum_age>
    <maximum_age>90 Years</maximum_age>
    <healthy_volunteers>No</healthy_volunteers>
  </eligibility>
  <overall_contact>
    <last_name>Hope Heller</last_name>
    <phone>202-687-1366</phone>
    <email>hope.heller@gunet.georgetown.edu</email>
  </overall_contact>
  <overall_contact_backup>
    <last_name>Robin Kuprewicz, MA</last_name>
    <email>rk1028@georgetown.edu</email>
  </overall_contact_backup>
  <location>
    <facility>
      <name>Georgetown University Medical Center</name>
      <address>
        <city>Washington</city>
        <state>District of Columbia</state>
        <zip>20007</zip>
        <country>United States</country>
      </address>
    </facility>
    <status>Recruiting</status>
    <contact>
      <last_name>Hope Heller</last_name>
      <phone>202-687-1366</phone>
      <email>hope.heller@gunet.georgetown.edu</email>
    </contact>
    <contact_backup>
      <last_name>Robin Kuprewicz, MA</last_name>
      <email>rk1028@georgetown.edu</email>
    </contact_backup>
  </location>
  <location_countries>
    <country>United States</country>
  </location_countries>
  <link>
    <url>https://neurology.georgetown.edu/translational_neurotherapeutics</url>
    <description>Translational Neurotherapeutics Program at Georgetown University Medical Center</description>
  </link>
  <results_reference>
    <citation>Pagan F, Hebron M, Valadez EH, Torres-Yaghi Y, Huang X, Mills RR, Wilmarth BM, Howard H, Dunn C, Carlson A, Lawler A, Rogers SL, Falconer RA, Ahn J, Li Z, Moussa C. Nilotinib Effects in Parkinson's disease and Dementia with Lewy bodies. J Parkinsons Dis. 2016 Jul 11;6(3):503-17. doi: 10.3233/JPD-160867.</citation>
    <PMID>27434297</PMID>
  </results_reference>
  <verification_date>February 2020</verification_date>
  <study_first_submitted>November 27, 2018</study_first_submitted>
  <study_first_submitted_qc>December 3, 2018</study_first_submitted_qc>
  <study_first_posted type="Actual">December 5, 2018</study_first_posted>
  <last_update_submitted>February 19, 2020</last_update_submitted>
  <last_update_submitted_qc>February 19, 2020</last_update_submitted_qc>
  <last_update_posted type="Actual">February 20, 2020</last_update_posted>
  <responsible_party>
    <responsible_party_type>Principal Investigator</responsible_party_type>
    <investigator_affiliation>Georgetown University</investigator_affiliation>
    <investigator_full_name>Karen E. Anderson, MD</investigator_full_name>
    <investigator_title>Director, Huntington Disease Care, Education and Research Center at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and Georgetown University Medical Center</investigator_title>
  </responsible_party>
  <condition_browse>
    <!-- CAUTION:  The following MeSH terms are assigned with an imperfect algorithm            -->
    <mesh_term>Huntington Disease</mesh_term>
  </condition_browse>
  <!-- Results have not yet been posted for this study                                          -->
</clinical_study>


download date: ClinicalTrials.gov processed this data on September 20, 2023
link text: Link to the current ClinicalTrials.gov record.
url: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03764215
org study id: 2017-0440
nct id: NCT03764215
lead sponsor: 
has dmc: Yes
is fda regulated drug: Yes
is fda regulated device: No
Based on strong pre-clinical evidence of the effects of Nilotinib on neurodegenerative
      pathologies, including autophagic clearance of neurotoxic proteins, neurotransmitters
      (dopamine and glutamate), immunity and behavior, the investigators conducted an open label
      pilot clinical trial in mid-to-advanced PD with dementia (PDD) and Dementia with Lewy Bodies
      (DLB) (stage 3-4) patients. Participants (N=12) were randomized 1:1 to once daily oral dose
      of 150mg and 300mg Nilotinib for 6 months. The investigators data suggests that Nilotinib
      penetrates the brain and inhibits CSF Abelson (Abl) activity via reduction of phosphorylated
      Abl in agreement with pre-clinical data. Several studies suggest that CSF alpha-Synuclein and
      Abeta42 are decreased and CSF total Tau and p-Tau are increased in PD and DLB. The
      investigators data shows attenuation of loss of CSF alpha-Synuclein and Abeta40/42 with 300mg
      (50% of the CML dose) compared to 150mg Nilotinib after 6 months treatment. CSF homovanillic
      acid (HVA), which is a by-product of dopamine metabolism, is significantly increased; and CSF
      total Tau and p-Tau are significantly reduced (N=5, P<0.05) with 300mg Nilotinib between
      baseline and 6 months treatment. Despite the reduction of L-Dopa replacement therapies in our
      study, the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UDPRS) I-IV scores improved with 150mg
      (3.5 points) and 300mg (11 points) from baseline to 6 months and worsened (13.7 points and
      11.4 points) after 3 months withdrawal of 150mg and 300mg, respectively. Other non-motor
      functions e.g. constipation was resolved in all patients and cognition was also improved (3.5
      points) using both the Mini-Mental Status Exam (MMSE) or the Scales for Outcomes in
      Parkinson's Disease-Cognition (SCOPA-Cog) between baseline and 6 months. MMSE scores returned
      to baseline after 3 months of Nilotinib withdrawal. These data are very compelling to
      evaluate the effects of Nilotinib in an open label proof-of-concept study in patients with
      HD.
The investigators performed an open label phase I clinical trial using two commercially
      available doses of Nilotinib (150 and 300mg capsules) in patients with advanced PDD and DLB.
      These indications have some overlapping pathologies and clinical symptoms and share common
      plasma and CSF biomarkers, including alpha-Synuclein, Abeta42/40, total Tau and p-Tau. The
      investigators obtained preliminary data showing that Nilotinib crosses the BBB and is
      detected in the CSF, suggesting Abl inhibition and downstream target engagement
      (alpha-Synuclein, Tau and Abeta) in the CNS (pharmacodynamics). Nilotinib increased CSF HVA
      levels as a downstream biomarker of dopamine metabolism. These data provide feasibility to
      test Nilotinib in a phase Ib clinical trial to demonstrate safety, tolerability and changes
      in disease biomarkers in patients with HD. The Huntingtin gene provides the genetic
      information for a protein that is also called "huntingtin" (Htt). Expansion of CAG
      (cytosineadenine-guanine) triplet repeats in the gene coding for the Huntingtin protein
      results in an abnormal protein, mutant Htt (mHTT), which gradually leads to protein
      accumulation within neurons and neuronal cell damage. Based on preclinical and clinical
      studies, the investigators hypothesize that Nilotinib will be safe and tolerable in
      individuals with HD. The level of HVA is significantly reduced in HD patients compared to
      controls (22), and the investigators expect Nilotinib to increase HVA levels. Nilotinib may
      also affect CSF level of total Huntingtin proteins and cell death markers, including NSE and
      S100B. The investigators further hypothesize that the investigators may see evidence of
      change in cognitive, motor or behavioral outcomes that will help us to build a better
      clinical development program going forward.

      Neurodegenerative diseases, including HD, are a group of genetic and sporadic disorders
      associated with neuronal death and progressive nervous system dysfunction. Cancer is also a
      collection of related genetic diseases, in which cells begin to divide without stopping and
      spread into surrounding tissues. Unlike neurodegeneration, in which no regeneration happens
      when damaged or aging postmitotic neurons die, damaged cells survive when they should die in
      cancer, resulting in uncontrolled mitotic cell division to form tumors. Cancerous tumors are
      malignant as they spread or invade nearby tissues by cellular contiguity or metastasize via
      blood and/or humoral transport. In neurodegeneration, the spread of disease by contiguity is
      supported by the hypotheses that toxic or "prion-like" proteins propagate along
      neuroanatomical pathways leading to progressive spread of disease and cell death. In
      neurodegeneration, failure of cellular quality control mechanisms leads to inadequate protein
      degradation via the proteasome or autophagy, resulting in intracellular accumulation of
      neurotoxic proteins. Consequently, these proteins are secreted from a pre-synaptic neuron and
      can traverse the synaptic cleft and enter a contiguous post-synaptic neuron. Secreted
      proteins may not penetrate an adjacent cell via the synapse but they may be re-routed into
      the cell and recycled via the endosomal system to fuse with autophagic vacuoles like the
      autophagosome or the lysosome. Microglia, the brain resident immune cells may also
      phagocytose and destroy toxic proteins. Accumulation of neurotoxic proteins, including
      alpha-Synuclein (Lewy bodies), beta-amyloid plaques, Tau tangles, Huntingtin, prions and
      TDP-43 are major culprits in neurodegeneration. These toxic proteins trigger progressive
      apoptotic cell death leading to loss of many central nervous system (CNS) functions,
      including mentation, cognition, language, movement, gastrointestinal motility, sleep and many
      others. The discoveries of toxic protein propagation from cell to cell, leading to
      progression of neurodegeneration triggered a series of pre-clinical and clinical studies to
      limit protein propagation via antibodies (active and passive immune therapies) that can
      capture the protein and destroy it en route to healthy neurons. This approach is fraught with
      difficulties, including failure to arrest neurocognitive decline and brain
      edema/inflammation. Manipulation of autophagy is a novel therapeutic approach that focuses on
      degradation of neurotoxic proteins at the manufacturing site in order to prevent their
      secretion and propagation. This novel strategy leads to unclogging the cell's disposal
      machine and degradation of toxic proteins, thus preserving neuronal survival via bulk
      digestion of abnormal proteins. Preservation of neuronal survival maintains the level of
      neurotransmitters that are necessary for cognitive, motor and other CNS functions, leading to
      alleviation of symptoms as well as arrest of neurodegeneration. As neurons are post-mitotic
      cells, pulsatile autophagy may promote protein degradation and provide an effective
      disease-modifying therapy for neurodegenerative diseases. Autophagy is a double-edged sword
      in cancer, either preventing accumulation of damaged proteins and organelles to suppress
      tumors, or promoting cell survival mechanisms that lead to tumor growth and proliferation.
      Leukemia and many other cancer treatments have been revolutionized by manipulation of
      autophagy, which leads to bulk degradation of unwanted or toxic molecules. For example in
      leukemia, genetic mutations and DNA damage can lead to large numbers of abnormal white blood
      cells (leukemia cells and leukemic blast cells) to accumulate in the blood and bone marrow,
      crowding out normal blood cells. Autophagy can lead to the degradation of the products of
      cancer-causing genes (oncogenes), tumor suppressor genes, damaged DNA and essential
      components of the cytosol, thereby controlling abnormal mitotic division and limiting tumor
      growth. Autophagy can also lead to self-cannibalization via promotion of programmed cell
      death, or apoptosis. Activation of the tumor suppressor p53 in response to DNA damage leads
      the cell to arrest proliferation, initiate DNA repair, and promote survival. However, if the
      DNA damage cannot be resolved by p53, it can trigger apoptotic death. Cell division and
      apoptosis are mediated by signaling mechanisms via the endosomal (early and recycling)
      system. Tyrosine kinases are activated via auto phosphorylation, triggering various signaling
      mechanisms that mediate cell division and/or apoptosis. Tyrosine kinase inhibition via
      de-phosphorylation leads to signaling via the late endosomal-lysosomal pathway, thus
      increasing autophagic degradation and tumor growth. TKIs have significantly improved the life
      quality and expectancies in many cancers, including CML. CML is characterized by the
      translocation of chromosomes 9 and 22 to form the "Philadelphia" chromosome resulting in the
      expression of a constitutively active Breakpoint Cluster Region-Abelson (BCR-Abl) tyrosine
      kinase. This oncogenic protein activates intracellular signaling pathways and induces cell
      proliferation. Our laboratory investigated TKIs that activate autophagy and are FDA-approved
      for CML, thus significantly reducing research and development efforts and cost by
      re-purposing for new indications. Abl is activated in neurodegeneration. A fraction of
      Nilotinib crosses the blood-brain-barrier (BBB), inhibits Abl and facilitates autophagic
      amyloid clearance, leading to neuroprotection and improved cognition and motor behavior. Mice
      treated with a much lower dose of these drugs (<25% of the typical CML dose) show significant
      motor and cognitive improvement and degradation of alpha-Synuclein, beta-amyloid, Tau and
      TDP-43 without evidence of increased inflammation. There was also significant reversal of
      neurotransmitter alterations, including dopamine and glutamate in several models of
      neurodegeneration. As a modulator of myeloid cells, Nilotinib may also positively regulate
      neuronal death and produce neuro-restorative effects via increased production of necessary
      growth factors and proliferation of myeloid-derived glia. Autophagic toxic protein clearance
      and production of growth factors may restore loss of neurotransmitters, leading to improved
      motor and cognitive functions. Nilotinib provides a double-edge sword via manipulation of
      autophagy to inhibit cell division and tumor growth in CML on one hand, and promote toxic
      protein degradation and neuronal survival in neurodegeneration on the other hand. The
      investigators propose to perform an open label, Phase Ib, proof of concept study to evaluate
      the impact of low doses of Nilotinib treatment on safety, tolerability and biomarkers in
      participants with HD. The investigators propose an adaptive design based on safety and
      tolerability of 150mg Nilotinib treatment for 3 months. The investigators will first enroll
      10 participants who will receive an oral dose of 150mg Nilotinib once daily (group 1) for 3
      months. If these participants tolerate 150mg dose of Nilotinib, i.e. with no exacerbation of
      chorea and behavioral symptoms and no other AEs (i.e. myelosuppression, QTc prolongation,
      liver/pancreatic toxicity, etc ), an additional 10 new HD participants (group 2) will be
      enrolled to evaluate the effects of 300 mg dose of Nilotinib for 3 months. The investigators
      will then compare baseline with the effects of 3-months Nilotinib treatment within each group
      and between groups (1 and 2). Participants (group 1 and 2) will return for a follow up visit
      one month after the termination of 3-months treatment with Nilotinib and results will
      compared to baseline visits and end of study visits. Ten (10) participants will receive an
      oral dose of 150mg Nilotinib once daily for 3 months (group 1). If this dose is tolerated
      another 10 participants will receive an oral dose of 300mg Nilotinib once daily (group 2) for
      3 months.
intervention model: Sequential Assignment
intervention model description: Ten (10) participants will receive an oral dose of 150mg Nilotinib once daily for 3 months (group 1). If this dose is tolerated another 10 participants will receive an oral dose of 300mg Nilotinib once daily (group 2) for 3 months.
primary purpose: Treatment
masking: None (Open Label)
masking description: We propose to perform an open label, Phase Ib, proof of concept study to evaluate the impact of low doses of Nilotinib treatment on safety, tolerability and biomarkers in participants with HD. We propose an adaptive design based on safety and tolerability of 150mg Nilotinib treatment for 3 months. We will first enroll 10 participants who will receive an oral dose of 150mg Nilotinib once daily (group 1) for 3 months. If these participants tolerate 150mg dose of Nilotinib, an additional 10 new HD participants (group 2) will be enrolled to evaluate the effects of 300 mg dose of Nilotinib for 3 months. We will then compare baseline with the effects of 3-months Nilotinib treatment within each group and between groups (1 and 2). Participants (group 1 and 2) will return for a follow up visit one month after the termination of 3-months treatment with Nilotinib and results will compared to baseline visits and end of study visits.
measure: Number of participants experiencing any Adverse events and Serious Adverse Events
time frame: 3 months
description: will be measured using the occurrence of adverse events (AEs) and serious adverse events (SAEs) deemed to be possibly, probably, or definitely related to the study drug. AEs of interest are defined as QTc prolongation, myelosuppression, hepatotoxicity and pancreatitis as listed in Table 1. These AEs will be tracked over the course of the trial and reviewed by the data and safety monitoring board (DSMB) at scheduled meetings and in real time. SAEs and AEs are known to be related to drug use at 800mg daily in cancer. A small safety trial using lower oral daily doses of 150 mg and 300 mg Nilotinib in 12 PD patients showed one cardiac SAE over a six-month treatment period. Based on preliminary clinical data, investigator's brochure (IB) and scheduled EKGs and lab tests, SAEs and AEs will be evaluated real-time and on case-by-case basis.
measure: CSF levels of biomarkers linked to Disease symptoms Chorea and behavioral symptoms
time frame: 3 months
description: Prior studies from our group showed that Nilotinib treatment increases the CSF levels of HVA, suggesting alteration of dopamine level. We will evaluate the effects of potential changes of dopamine levels on Chorea and behavioral symptoms in HD participants. We will use an adaptive study design that will allow examination of the effects of 150mg Nilotinib once daily in 10 HD participants. If participants in this group do not exhibit worsening chorea or behavioral changes, then 300mg Niloitnib will be given to a new group of 10 additional participants. These potential AEs will be tracked over the course of the trial and reviewed by the DSMB at scheduled meetings and in real time.
measure: Number of participants tolerating the drug by the ability of remaining on treatment
time frame: 3 months
description: for a given participant will be defined as the ability of participants to remain on treatment. Overall tolerability of the drug will be defined as an acceptable number of up to 25% discontinuations.
arm group label: Group 1
arm group type: Experimental
description: Ten (10) participants will receive an oral dose of 150mg Nilotinib once daily for 3 months (group 1). If Nilotinib 150 mg per mouth daily dose is tolerated by the 1st group of 10 participants for 3 months, another 10 participants will receive an oral dose of 300mg Nilotinib once daily (group 2) for 3 months.
intervention type: Drug
intervention name: Nilotinib 150 MG
description: 10 participants will receive an oral dose of 150mg Nilotinib once daily for 3 months (group 1). If this dose is tolerated another 10 participants will receive an oral dose of 300mg Nilotinib once daily (group 2) for 3 months.
arm group label: Group 1
criteria: 
gender: All
minimum age: 25 Years
maximum age: 90 Years
healthy volunteers: No
last name: Hope Heller
phone: 202-687-1366
email: hope.heller@gunet.georgetown.edu
last name: Robin Kuprewicz, MA
email: rk1028@georgetown.edu
facility: 
status: Recruiting
contact: 
contact backup: 
country: United States
url: https://neurology.georgetown.edu/translational_neurotherapeutics
description: Translational Neurotherapeutics Program at Georgetown University Medical Center
citation: Pagan F, Hebron M, Valadez EH, Torres-Yaghi Y, Huang X, Mills RR, Wilmarth BM, Howard H, Dunn C, Carlson A, Lawler A, Rogers SL, Falconer RA, Ahn J, Li Z, Moussa C. Nilotinib Effects in Parkinson's disease and Dementia with Lewy bodies. J Parkinsons Dis. 2016 Jul 11;6(3):503-17. doi: 10.3233/JPD-160867.
PMID: 27434297
responsible party type: Principal Investigator
investigator affiliation: Georgetown University
investigator full name: Karen E. Anderson, MD
investigator title: Director, Huntington Disease Care, Education and Research Center at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and Georgetown University Medical Center
mesh term: Huntington Disease