Characterizing Perceived Physical Fatigability in Nusinersen-treated SMA

May 12, 2026 updated by: Jacqueline Montes, Columbia University

Characterizing Perceived Physical Fatigability in Nusinersen-treated Adolescents and Adults: The SMA EFFORT

The purpose of this project is to investigate the utility of the SMA EFFORT, an SMA-specific patient-reported outcome measure, to assess perceived physical fatigability that is anchored to intensity and duration of activities. We aim to characterize perceived physical fatigability (PPF) in a diverse cohort of people with SMA (pwSMA) and evaluate the change of PPF before and after nusinersen dosing.

Study Overview

Status

Status

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

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

Fatigue and fatigability are symptoms often experienced by people living with spinal muscular atrophy (pwSMA). Nusinersen is shown to extend survival and improve motor function, but fatigue and fatigability persist. Treated patients report changes in their ability to complete repetitive physical activities but a way for measuring this has not been created. While tests completed in the clinic by individuals with SMA highlight that fatigability is an important part of the SMA experience,we do not fully understand how pwSMA experience fatigability with everyday tasks. Anecdotal reports of pwSMA suggest a waning effect in endurance toward the end of their treatment window, however this change has not been measured.The SMA EFFORT is specifically designed for pwSMA and aims to better understand how they feel when completing daily physical activities.

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.
Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

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.
45

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

  • United States
    • New York
      • New York, New York, United States, 10032
        • Recruiting
        • Columbia University Irving Medical Center
        • Contact:
        • 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

  • Child
  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

12 years and older, with genetic diagnosis of all types of 5qSMA, treated with nusinersen (12 or 28 mg) for at least 6 months, will be included.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. All types of 5qSMA (homozygous deletion or point mutation of the SMN1 gene and any number of SMN2 copies)
  2. Receiving a stable dosing regimen of 12 or 28 mg nusinersen for at least 6 months

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. An injury or surgery within the previous 3 months that would impact their ability to perform in-clinic function and/or fatigability assessments
  2. Enrolled in an ongoing clinical trial, or extension study, expanded access program, or long-term registry of an investigational or recently approved medication
  3. Receiving adjuvant and/or dual therapy (e.g., muscle-targeted, NMJ, or symptomatic treatments)

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

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Group / Cohort

A group or subgroup of participants in an observational study that is assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.
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.
Walkers
Participants with SMA who are able to walk without assistance.
Other: Observational
Observational
Sitters
Participants with SMA who are unable to walk without assistance, but are able to sit independently.
Other: Observational
Observational
Non-sitters
Participants with SMA who are unable to sit without assistance.
Other: Observational
Observational

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
SMA EFFORT
Time Frame: Baseline, 1 week, 1 month
The SMA EFFORT is a perceived physical fatigability patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) that provides a percent (PPF%) total score to each participant based on their participation over the past 30 days.
Baseline, 1 week, 1 month

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
Revised Upper Limb Module (RULM)
Time Frame: Baseline
The RULM is used to assess motor function of the shoulder, mid-level elbow, wrist, and hand.
Baseline
Hammersmith Functional Motor Scale Expanded (HFMSE)
Time Frame: Baseline
The HFMSE is a 33-item scale designed to assess gross motor function in sitters and walkers with SMA.
Baseline
Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT)
Time Frame: Baseline
The 6MWT is an objective evaluation of functional exercise capacity which measures the maximum distance a person can walk in six minutes over a 25-meter linear course.
Baseline
Six-Minute Mastication Test (6MMT)
Time Frame: Baseline
The 6MMT is a measure of chewing endurance in which the individual is asked to continuously chew on a chewing tube for a period of six minutes.
Baseline
Endurance Shuttle Box and Block Test (ESSBT)
Time Frame: Baseline
The ESSBT is a test of upper limb function that has been adapted to assess performance fatigability in SMA.
Baseline
Endurance Shuttle Nine-Hole Peg Test (ESNHPT)
Time Frame: Baseline
The ESNHPT is used to assess more distal, fine motor upper extremity performance fatigability.
Baseline

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.
Columbia University

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Biogen

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: Jacqueline Montes, Pt, EdD, Columbia University

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.
April 24, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

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 7, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

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.
February 26, 2027

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).
April 25, 2025

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.
April 25, 2025

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.
May 2, 2025

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.
May 14, 2026

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.
May 12, 2026

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.
May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

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.
  • AAAV5804

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

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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