A Phase - IIa - IIb, Trial to Study the Safety, Tolerability and Efficacy of Memantine as a Long-term Treatment of SCD (MeMAGEN)

October 30, 2019 updated by: Dr Koren Ariel, HaEmek Medical Center, Israel

A Phase - IIa - IIb, Open Label, Single Center Trial to Study the Safety, Tolerability and Efficacy of Memantine Teva® as Supportive Long-term Treatment in Symptomatic Sickle Cell Disease

Symptomatic sickle cell disease (SCD) is worldwide the most frequent cause for hereditary hemolytic anemia with recurrent pain crises. Hemolysis, vaso- occlusive and pain crises are hallmarks of this disease and are causative for an important socio-economic burden worldwide, especially in Africa.

Aside from allogenic stem cell transplantation, which is rarely available and very expensive, at present there is no curative treatment for patients with SCD. The current standard of care includes treatment with Hydroxyurea and symptomatic care such as transfusions, antibiotic/analgesic treatment. Recent findings allowed the investigators to come up with a novel pharmacological target for prophylactic treatment of this group of patients. The investigators showed that N-methyl D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) are substantially up-regulated in circulating red blood cells (RBCs) of SCD patients. Ca2+ uptake via these non-selective cation channels has major impact on RBC hydration and facilitates polymerization of deoxygenated hemoglobin S variant in RBCs of patients. In vitro observations shows that inhibition of NMDARs with Memantine caused re-hydration and largely prevented hypoxia-induced sickling in RBCs. A pilot trial MemSID (NCT02615847) was conducted in August 2015-March 2017 at the Hematology Division of University Hospital Zurich. A small cohort of adult SCD patients was treated with 20 mg Memantine daily to test safety, tolerability and efficacy of this drug and to assess the effect of Memantine on hemolytic activity and RBC stability. Pilot data reveal safety and an impressive therapeutic potential of Memantine in treating SCD patients. Due to a small number of SCD patients in Switzerland, an extended trial including larger number of adult and adolescent patients will be performed at the Pediatric Hematology Unit of the Emek Medical Center in Afula, Israel

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Unknown

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Background and Rationale: Symptomatic sickle cell disease (SCD) is worldwide the most frequent cause for hereditary hemolytic anemia with recurrent pain crises. Hemolysis, vaso- occlusive and pain crises are hallmarks of this disease and are causative for an important socio-economic burden worldwide, especially in Africa.

Aside from allogenic stem cell transplantation, which is rarely available and very expensive, at present there is no curative treatment for patients with SCD. The current standard of care includes treatment with Hydroxyurea and symptomatic care such as transfusions, antibiotic/analgesic treatment. Recent findings allowed the investigators to come up with a novel pharmacological target for prophylactic treatment of this group of patients. N-methyl D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) are substantially up-regulated in circulating red blood cells (RBCs) of SCD patients. Ca2+ uptake via these non-selective cation channels has major impact on RBC hydration and facilitates polymerization of deoxygenated hemoglobin S variant in RBCs of patients. In vitro inhibition of NMDARs with Memantine caused re-hydration and largely prevented hypoxia-induced sickling in RBCs. A pilot trial MemSID (NCT02615847) was conducted in August 2015-March 2017 at the Hematology Division of University Hospital Zurich. A small cohort of adult SCD patients was treated with 20 mg Memantine daily to test safety, tolerability and efficacy of this drug and to assess the effect of Memantine on hemolytic activity and RBC stability. Pilot data reveal safety and an impressive therapeutic potential of Memantine in treating SCD patients. Due to a small number of SCD patients in Switzerland, an extended trial including larger number of adult and adolescent patients will be performed at the Pediatric Hematology Unit of the Emek Medical Center in Afula, Israel.

Objective(s): Primary objective:

To evaluate the safety, tolerability and efficacy of low doses of Memantine Teva® treatment in adult and adolescent patients with symptomatic SCD.

Secondary objective:

To asses and evaluate the long-term effects of Memantine Teva® on the clinical and laboratory parameters in adult and adolescent patients with symptomatic SCD.

The following laboratory parameters will be assessed and evaluated:

  • Complete blood count.
  • Hemolytic activity (reticulocytes, indirect bilirubin and LDH).
  • Iron status (ferritin, serum iron, transferrin and transferrin saturation).
  • Fetal hemoglobin levels Additional parameters related to red cell volume, density, membrane stability, adherablilty, inflammatory markers and metabolic activity will be detected by the external laboratory (Red Cell Research Group, University of Zurich) Study design: It is a single center and open label study.

Laboratory analysis including hematology, coagulation and chemistry test will be performed and urine samples will be also analyzed. In addition, at each visit a physical examination and measurement of vital signs will be performed.

The number of total admissions, hospital days and emergency consultations will be recorded. The amount and type of analgesic medication given. The amount of RBC transfusions, the number of days that antibiotics were prescribed will be also recorded.

At screening and at the end of the study SCD specific assessments will be performed, which include cardiologic examination (ECG, ECHO), abdominal sonography, ophthalmological examination, lung function testing and neuroangiologic examination.

The impact on working ability assessed by the number of days with inability to work. For the impact on work ability and social life activities a questionnaire of quality of life will be filled out by the patient once a month.

- Evaluation of Cognitive function will be also performed at screening and at the end of the study Study Product / Intervention: Memantine Teva® is a low-moderate affinity, uncompetitive, NMDAR antagonist and is licensed in Switzerland and in Israel for the treatment of Alzheimer disease.

Memantine Teva® film-coated tablets (Memantine hydrochloride) is produced by Teva Pharma AG and will be provided as 5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg tablets packed in blister.

The study drug will be taken once a day per os, during Number of Participants with Rationale: In this study 40 patients with SCD will be included. Twenty patients aged 18 years or older (cohort 1) and twenty patients 10 - 17 years old (cohort 2).

Study Duration: The study lasts 15 month per patient.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Anticipated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
40

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • Israel
      • Afula, Israel, 18101
        • Recruiting
        • Emek Medical Centre
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

6 years and older (Child, Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Documented symptomatic sickle cell disease (HbSS or HbS/beta thalassemia)
  • Age 18 years or older (cohort 1) and 10 - 17 years old (cohort 2)
  • Able and willing to provide written informed consent and to comply with the study protocol procedures Willing to use two effective methods of contraception during study treatment until 6 months after stop of study treatment. Effective contraception methods are considered oral, injectable, implantative contraceptives or intrauterine contraceptive devices combined with use of condom.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of transfusion during last three months before Screening
  • Patients with active bacterial, viral or fungal infection requiring systemic treatment
  • Patients with known infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) of human T cell leukemia virus 1 (HTLV-1)
  • Inadequate renal function: creatinine clearance < 30ml/min
  • Inadequate liver function: NCICTC Grade 3 liver function tests (AST, ALT > 5x upper limit of normal (ULN))
  • Patients with Chronic Active Hepatitis - HCV or HBV
  • History of malignancy
  • Women who are pregnant or breast feeding
  • Known epileptic disease and under treatment with anticonvulsive drugs
  • The receipt of any investigational product within 30 days prior to this trial

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Single group of patients

In this study 40 patients with SCD will be included. Twenty patients aged 18 years or older (cohort 1) and twenty patients 10 - 17 years old (cohort 2).

All the patients will receive Memantine Teva® film-coated tablets (Memantine hydrochloride) produced by Teva Pharma AG and will be provided as 5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg tablets packed in blister.

The study drug will be taken once a day per os, during one year.
Drug: Memantine Hydrochloride
a low-moderate affinity, uncompetitive, NMDAR antagonist
Other Names:
  • Memantine TEVA

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Assessment of Incidence and severity of Memantine treatment-related Adverse Events (AE), including clinically significant abnormal laboratory values in adult and adolescent patients with symptomatic SCD.
Time Frame: one year

The following laboratory parameters will be assessed and evaluated:

  • Complete blood count.
  • Hemolytic activity (reticulocytes, indirect bilirubin and LDH).
  • Iron status (ferritin, serum iron, transferrin and transferrin saturation).
  • Fetal hemoglobin levels
  • Red cell volume, density, membrane stability, adherablilty, inflammatory markers and metabolic activity.
one year

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Assessment of Clinical Improvement during Memantine treatment compared to a pre-screening data obtained from patients clinical files in adult and adolescent patients with symptomatic SCD.
Time Frame: one year

Clinical improvements will be assessed by

  • Number of hospital days.
  • Number of emergency consultations
  • Impact on working ability (the number of days with inability to work)
  • The amount and type of analgesic medication received by the patient.
  • The amount of RBC transfusions received by the patient.
  • The number of days that antibiotics were prescribed.
  • A questionnaire on quality of life.
  • Evaluation of Cognitive function.
one year

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
HaEmek Medical Center, Israel

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Ariel Koren, Professor, Emek Medical Center

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
February 2, 2018

Primary Completion (Anticipated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 31, 2020

Study Completion (Anticipated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 31, 2020

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
August 1, 2017

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 8, 2017

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
August 11, 2017

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
November 1, 2019

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
October 30, 2019

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
October 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 071-17 EMC

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

No

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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