Efficacy Study of NH001 in Vegetative State & Minimally Conscious State Following a Traumatic Brain Injury (NH001-2)

A Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Randomized Study of the Safety and Efficacy of NH001 in Improving the Functional Outcome of Patients in a Vegetative State or Minimally Conscious State Following a Severe Traumatic Brain Injury

The purpose of this study is to test the drug apomorphine in subjects who are in a Vegetative State or a Minimally Conscious State.

Study Overview

• Status: Suspended
• Conditions: Brain Injury
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Apomorphine; Drug: Placebo

Detailed Description

This is a prospective, multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the safety and efficacy of NH001 to improve the functional outcome of patients in a vegetative state or minimally conscious state following a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 76
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Massachusetts
    • Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02114
      • Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 16 years to 48 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Patient is between 18 and 50 years of age, inclusive.
2. Male or non-pregnant female (females of child-bearing potential will be required to have undergone a pregnancy test with negative results prior to entry to the study).
3. Patients will have sustained a severe closed head injury within one to four months.
4. Patients will have remained in a vegetative or minimally conscious state between one and four months after injury.
5. Patients will have reached a stabilized clinical state prior to admission to the study (e.g. afebrile, haemodynamic and electrolyte stability).
6. Patients will have a mean DRS score between 17 and 29, when measured twice a day over two consecutive days.
7. Informed consent from a legal representative will have been obtained, according to the procedures outlined in Section 8.1.2.
8. Patients who, according to the investigator's opinion, are likely to be available for the required 180-day follow up evaluation.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients who are not clinically stable at the time of entry into the study (infections, cardiovascular decompensation, etc.)
2. Patients who require mechanical respiratory assistance.
3. Patients who show signs of progressive neurological deterioration post-TBI.
4. Patients with a known history of medically relevant substance abuse.
5. Patients with history of cardiac disease.
6. Patients who suffered an anoxic event.
7. Patients who have received an investigational drug within 30 days of the study.
8. Patients who have previously used NH001, other dopaminergic agent (e.g. levodopa, amantadine, domperidone) or any known neuro-stimulant (e.g. methylphenidate, amphetamines, atomoxetine, modafinil) within the last 7 days days.
9. Patients who are receiving dopamine blockers (e.g. risperidone, haloperidol, chlorpromazine, flupenthixol, clozapine, olanzapine, quetiapine)
10. Patients who are receiving drugs of the 5HT3 antagonist class, including, for example, ondansetron, granisetron, dolasetron, palonosetron and alosetron.
11. Patients who are receiving tricyclic antidepressants drugs
12. Patients who are receiving type I antiarrhythmics (i.e. quinidine).
13. Patients who have a known history of cardiac arrhythmias or congenital QTc prolongation.
14. Patients who have a known history of previous neurological functional impairment (e.g. stroke, spinal cord injury, dementia, epilepsy, psychiatric diseases).
15. Patients who experienced seizures within the first week post injury or have ongoing seizures.
16. Patients receiving prophylactic anti-convulsive medications.
17. Patients with known allergies to apomorphine, morphine, sulfites or trimethobenzamide.
18. Patients who are receiving nitrates or other vasodilators.
19. Patients receiving CNS acting agents such as barbiturates, morphine, belladonna, opiates.
20. For male patients, patients who are receiving trazodone or any other drug that is known to produce priapism.
21. Patients without a relative or legal guardian to consent to the study.
22. Patients who, according to the investigator's opinion, are unlikely to be available for the required 180-day follow up evaluation.

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
Active Comparator: Apomorphine; Patients will receive an ascending dosing schedule to reach a maximum infusion rate of up to 6 mg/hour for 12 hours a day.	Drug: Apomorphine; Patients will receive an ascending dosing schedule of continuous subcutaneous apomorphine to reach a maximum infusion rate of up to 6 mg/hour for 12 hours a day.
Placebo Comparator: Placebo; Patients will receive a continues subcutaneous infusion of saline solution.	Drug: Placebo; Patients will receive a continues subcutaneous infusion of saline solution.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Presence or absence of meaningful responses to external commands based on Coma Recovery Scale-Revised	Day 42 or the day that the drug treatment is discontinued, whichever happens earlier.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Coma/Near Coma Scale (CNC) Disability Rating Scale (DRS), Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended (GOS-E), ability to participate in 3 hours a day of active rehabilitation, and a clinical impression of change.	Baseline, weekly during drug treatment and at follow up visits of days 90,180 and 360.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: NeuroHealing Pharmaceuticals Inc.
• Collaborators: FDA Office of Orphan Products Development
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Elkan R Gamzu, PhD, NeuroHealing Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: July 1, 2010
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): December 1, 2018
• Study Completion (Anticipated): December 1, 2018

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 26, 2008
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 26, 2008
• First Posted (Estimate): September 29, 2008

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 31, 2017
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 29, 2017
• Last Verified: March 1, 2017

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Traumatic Brain Injury; Vegetative State; Minimally Conscious State; Coma
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Neurologic Manifestations; Neurobehavioral Manifestations; Brain Damage, Chronic; Craniocerebral Trauma; Trauma, Nervous System; Unconsciousness; Consciousness Disorders; Brain Injuries; Wounds and Injuries; Brain Injuries, Traumatic; Persistent Vegetative State; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Neurotransmitter Agents; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Autonomic Agents; Peripheral Nervous System Agents; Gastrointestinal Agents; Dopamine Agonists; Dopamine Agents; Emetics; Apomorphine
• Other Study ID Numbers: 3337