Cistanche Total Glycosides for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Randomized Control Trial (RCT) Study Assessing Clinical Response

Cistanche Total Glycosides Treatment for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Randomized Control Trial Study Assessing Clinical Response

This study will examine the effectiveness of Cistanche Total Glycosides(CTG) in treating patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) - a fatal neurological degenerative disease that causes adult-onset, progressive motor neurons loss in the spinal cord, brain stem and motor cortex. Patients develop progressive wasting and weakness of both upper and lower limbs, bulbar and respiratory muscles. Usually death from respiratory failure typically is within 3-5 years of diagnosis. Although there are various treatments for ALS, riluzole is the only approved treatment to delay the disease progression. Cistanche Total Glycosides is an approved drug that has protective effects. It acts anti-apoptosis by activating several protective pathways, stimulates neuronal differentiation of adult neural stem cells in the brain, and improves long-term recovery. CTG is a highly attractive candidate for the treatment of neurodegenerative conditions such as ALS.

Patients 18 to 65 years of age who have had mild to moderately severe ALS for 0.5 to 2 years of duration may be eligible for this study. Candidates will be screened with a medical history and possible review of medical records, physical examination, blood test, urine and stool analyses, electrocardiogram, electrophysiological examination, neurological imaging and, for women, a pregnancy test.

Participants will have drug therapy according to randomized number. One group receives CTG while other group receives placebo. For the procedure, patients are given a medication to lessen anxiety and any discomfort. Patients receive drugs for 9 months. The CTG dosage is 1.8g/day. Physical examination and interview, Appel ALS scale and ALS-Functional Rating Scale will be done in 28 days and 3, 6, 9months. Electrophysiological examination will be tested per 3 months. Blood samples will be collected on treat28 days and 3, 6, 9months.

Study Overview

• Status: Unknown
• Conditions: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Cistanche Total Glycosides

Detailed Description

This study will examine the effectiveness of Cistanche Total Glycosides(CTG) in treating patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) - a fatal neurological degenerative disease that causes adult-onset, progressive motor neurons loss in the spinal cord, brain stem and motor cortex. Patients develop progressive wasting and weakness of both upper and lower limbs, bulbar and respiratory muscles. Usually death from respiratory failure typically is within 3-5 years of diagnosis. Although there are various treatments for ALS, riluzole is the only approved treatment to delay the disease progression. Cistanche Total Glycosides is an approved drug that has protective effects. It acts anti-apoptosis by activating several protective pathways, stimulates neuronal differentiation of adult neural stem cells in the brain, and improves long-term recovery. CTG is a highly attractive candidate for the treatment of neurodegenerative conditions such as ALS.

Patients 18 to 65 years of age who have had mild to moderately severe ALS for 0.5 to 2 years of duration may be eligible for this study. Candidates will be screened with a medical history and possible review of medical records, physical examination, blood test, urine and stool analyses, electrocardiogram, electrophysiological examination, neurological imaging and, for women, a pregnancy test.

Participants will have drug therapy according to randomized number. One group receives CTG while other group receives placebo. For the procedure, patients are given a medication to lessen anxiety and any discomfort. Patients receive drugs for 9 months. The CTG dosage is 1.8g/day. Physical examination and interview, Appel ALS scale and ALS-Functional Rating Scale will be done in 28 days and 3, 6, 9months. Electrophysiological examination will be tested per 3 months. Blood samples will be collected on treat28 days and 3, 6, 9months.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 40
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Dongsheng Fan MD Fan, Docter; Phone Number: +861082265250; Email: dsfan@sina.com ; chinaals@gmail.com
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Wang Liping Wang; Phone Number: +861082265024; Email: chinaals@gmail.com

Study Locations

• China
  • Beijing
    • Beijing, Beijing, China, 100191
      • Recruiting
      • Dongsheng Fan, MD; Liping Wang,MD
      • Contact: Dongsheng Fan MD Fan, Docter; Phone Number: +861082265250; Email: chinaals@gmail.com;dsfan@sina.com ;
      • Contact: Liping Wang MD Wang, doctor; Phone Number: +8613810002694; Email: chinaals@gmail.com;dianer@126.com

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• All subjects must have a verifiable diagnosis of ALS of 0.5 to 2 years' duration.
• The diagnosis must be supported by the Revised Criteria of the World Federation of Neurology.
• The grades of diagnosis must be clinically definite ALS or clinically probable ALS.
• All subjects must be over age 18 and below 65.
• The ALS is mildly to moderate based on ALS Health State Scale.
• Electrophysiological features show CMAP amplitude of motor nerve normal or mild declining.
• Serum creatine kinase is normal or mild upper, less than 500U/L.

Exclusion Criteria:

• If anyone of the above eligibility requirements is not met
• Use of any other investigational agent within 30 days beginning the treatment phase of this study
• Severe cardiac, pulmonary, hepatic or/and hematic disease
• HIV positivity or signs and symptoms consistent with HIV infection
• Pregnant or nursing women
• History of cancer with less than 5 years documentation of a disease-free state
• History of anaphylactic reaction or hypersensitivity to G-CSF or proteins derived from E.coli
• Alcohol or drug abuse in recent 1 year
• Can't understand or obey the rules of treatment
• Blood donor in recent 30 days

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Quadruple

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Placebo Comparator: 2	Drug: Cistanche Total Glycosides; Drug: Cistanche Total Glycosides Cistanche Total Glycosides ,1.8g/day(6 capsules) po Qd*9months Arms: 1 Drug: blank capsules 6 capsules po Qd*9months Arms: 2
Active Comparator: 1; 1,CTG,po	Drug: Cistanche Total Glycosides; Drug: Cistanche Total Glycosides Cistanche Total Glycosides ,1.8g/day(6 capsules) po Qd*9months Arms: 1 Drug: blank capsules 6 capsules po Qd*9months Arms: 2

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
The mean rate of decline of ALS-FRS score	12 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
The mean rate decline of the AARS score	12 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Peking University

Publications and helpful links

Helpful Links

• Related Info

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: January 1, 2008
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): December 1, 2008
• Study Completion (Anticipated): October 1, 2010

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 15, 2008
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 15, 2008
• First Posted (Estimate): September 16, 2008

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): December 30, 2009
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 29, 2009
• Last Verified: September 1, 2008

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; Cistanche Total Glycosides; Randomized Control Trial Study
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Metabolic Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Neuromuscular Diseases; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Spinal Cord Diseases; TDP-43 Proteinopathies; Proteostasis Deficiencies; Sclerosis; Motor Neuron Disease; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; Enzyme Inhibitors; Protective Agents; Cardiotonic Agents; Cardiac Glycosides
• Other Study ID Numbers: PUTH-1

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