Trial of Dichloroacetate in Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex Deficiency: (DCA/PDCD)

May 1, 2025 updated by: Saol Therapeutics Inc

Phase 3 Trial of Dichloroacetate in Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex Deficiency:

The objective of this research study is to conduct a pivotal phase 3 trial of treatment with the investigational drug dichloroacetate (DCA) in young children with deficiency of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC). PDC deficiency (PDCD) is the most common cause of congenital lactic acidosis and is a frequently fatal metabolic disease of childhood for which no proven treatment exists. The investigators predict that DCA represents targeted potential therapy for PDCD because of its ability to increase both the catalytic activity and stability of the enzyme complex. The conclusions of numerous laboratory and clinical investigations are consistent with this postulate and have led to the designation of DCA as an Orphan Product for congenital lactic acidosis by the Food and Drug Administration.

A novel Observer reported outcome (ObsRO) survey that is completed by study participant's parent/caregiver, is the efficacy outcome measure.

Funding Source - FDA OOPD

Study Overview

Detailed Description

Clinical sites will be established across the United States for study participation. The investigators will conduct a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial of 24 evaluable children (30 randomized), aged 6 months through 17 years, with confirmed diagnosis of PDC Deficiency.

Study participants complete Screening procedures at Visit 1 to confirm eligibility for study participation. Screening study procedures include medical history review and physical exam; blood and urine collection, and collection of cheek (buccal) cells; training to complete the ObsRO daily survey. The ObsRO is a survey developed for this study to evaluate how study participants are feeling and functioning in the home setting. The ObsRO survey is completed by the study participant parent/caregiver every day during both treatment periods (study medication and placebo) of study participation (approximately 9 months). During treatment period 1 and 2 (4 months of study medication and 5 months of placebo), the study participant will communicate with the study team at least 2 times per month to evaluate the child's level of health, and compliance with daily survey completion and taking the study medication.

Study participants complete Baseline study procedures at Visit 2 prior to randomization to treatment. Baseline study procedures include, medical history review and physical exam; blood and urine collection; 3 day food record. The study medication will be shipped to the study participants home each month of study participation.

Safety labs are completed during each randomization period (month 3 and month 5). The safety labs can be completed at the clinical trial site, or at any standard clinical laboratory.

Study participants will complete a study visit after each randomization period (month 5 and 9) to complete study assessments at the same clinical site. Visit study procedures include medical history review and physical exam; blood and urine collection; 3 day food record.

Study participants who complete both treatment periods and did not sustain serious adverse events attributable to DCA, will be offered continued access to investigational medication DCA through an open-label access program until the study concludes. Study participants must sign a separate consent form for participation in the open-label access phase of this clinical trial and must complete a study visit every 6 months at the same clinical site for study assessments that include medical history review and physical exam, blood and urine collection. The study medication will continue to be mailed to the study participant during the open-label phase at the same dose received during the blinded phase of the study.

Study participants will be stratified according to their predicted rate of DCA metabolism and clearance, based on genotyping prior to randomization (completed at visit 1 buccal cell collection).

Study participants will continue whatever diet and other "standard of care" is deemed appropriate by their local expert clinicians.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

34

Phase

  • Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

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

Study Locations

    • California
      • Orange, California, United States, 92868
        • Children's Hospital of Orange County
      • Stanford, California, United States, 94305
        • Stanford University
    • District of Columbia
      • Washington, District of Columbia, United States, 20010
        • Children's National Medical Center
    • Florida
      • Gainesville, Florida, United States, 32611
        • University of Florida
    • Ohio
      • Cleveland, Ohio, United States, 44106
        • University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
    • Pennsylvania
      • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 15224
        • Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
      • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, 15224
        • Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh
    • Texas
      • Houston, Texas, United States, 77030
        • Baylor College of Medicine
    • Utah
      • Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, 84113
        • University of Utah
    • Washington
      • Seattle, Washington, United States, 98105
        • Seattle Children's Hospital

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

Ages Eligible for Study

2 years to 13 years (Child)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age 6 m through 17 y
  • Presence of characteristic clinical or metabolic features of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex deficiency (PDCD) and
  • Presence of a known pathogenic mutation of a gene that is specifically associated with PDCD.

Exclusion Criteria:

A genetic mitochondrial disease other than those stipulated under inclusion criteria Primary disorders of amino acid metabolism; primary disorders of fatty acid oxidation Secondary lactic acidosis due to impaired oxygenation or circulation (cardiomyopathy or congenital heart defect) Renal insufficiency (defined as: requires chronic dialysis or serum creatinine ≥ 1.2 mg/dl; creatinine clearance <60 ml/min Primary hepatic disease unrelated to PDCD Pregnancy or breast feeding

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: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: Quadruple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Dichloroacetate, then Placebo

This group will start on the Dichloroacetate (DCA) treatment which will last for 4 months. After 4 months a 1 month washout period will occur. After the 1 month the group will crossover to the placebo treatment for 4 months.

Participants will be genotyped to determine GSTZ1 (glutathione S-transferase Zeta-1) haplotype status, which will stratify this group into 1 of 2 dose regimens

Participants will receive the same volume of placebo in liquid form given during DCA treatment arm. Liquid will be an exact replication of DCA formulation with no DCA added.
Participants will be genotyped to determine GSTZ1 haplotype status.

Study medication DCA is an oral solution mixed with an artificial sweetener containing aspartame and strawberry extract (50mg/mL)

Participants will be genotyped to determine GSTZ1 (glutathione S-transferase Zeta-1) haplotype status, which will stratify this group into 1 of 2 dose regimens:

EGT carriers will receive 12 mg/kg/12hr DCA. EGT non-carriers will receive 6 mg/kg/12 hr DCA.

Other Names:
  • Sodium Dichloroacetate
Placebo Comparator: Placebo, then Dichloroacetate

This group will start on the placebo treatment which will last for 4 months. After 4 months a 1 month washout period will occur. After the 1 month the group will crossover to the Dichloroacetate (DCA) treatment for 4 months.

Participants will be genotyped to determine GSTZ1 (glutathione S-transferase Zeta-1) haplotype status, which will stratify this group into 1 of 2 dose regimens

Participants will receive the same volume of placebo in liquid form given during DCA treatment arm. Liquid will be an exact replication of DCA formulation with no DCA added.
Participants will be genotyped to determine GSTZ1 haplotype status.

Study medication DCA is an oral solution mixed with an artificial sweetener containing aspartame and strawberry extract (50mg/mL)

Participants will be genotyped to determine GSTZ1 (glutathione S-transferase Zeta-1) haplotype status, which will stratify this group into 1 of 2 dose regimens:

EGT carriers will receive 12 mg/kg/12hr DCA. EGT non-carriers will receive 6 mg/kg/12 hr DCA.

Other Names:
  • Sodium Dichloroacetate

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
The efficacy will be measured between the groups by using the Observer Reported Outcome (ObsRO) measure of health.
Time Frame: 9 months
The efficacy of dichloroacetate will be determined by applying a novel Observer Reported Outcome (ObsRO) measure of health. The ObsRO scores will be graded on a Likert Scale from 0-4. (0 being absent and 4 being extremely severe).
9 months
The number of participants with adverse events will be compared between the groups.
Time Frame: 9 months
This is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of dichloroacetate by comparing the 1) number and 2) severity of adverse events during both the double-blind and open label treatment phases.
9 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Karnofsky/Lansky Performance Status
Time Frame: 9 months

The Karnofsky/Lansky performance Scale is completed by the study team. It is a measure of the study participants functional ability to carry on activities of daily living.

The Karnofsky Scale is used for study participants age greater than 16 years. The Lansky Scale is used for study participants age less than 16 years.

9 months
Blood lactate levels between the groups.
Time Frame: 9 months
The measurement of blood lactate level will be performed.
9 months
Plasma β-hydroxybutyrate (β-OHB) concentrations between the groups.
Time Frame: 9 months
The measurement of plasma β-hydroxybutyrate (β-OHB) concentrations will be performed.
9 months

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
The number of participants with adverse events based on the age at randomization between the groups.
Time Frame: 9 months
The number of participants with adverse events based on the age at randomization will be measured between the groups.
9 months
The number of participants with adverse events based on dietary fat intake between the groups.
Time Frame: 9 months
The number of participants with adverse events based on dietary fat intake will be measured between the groups.
9 months
The efficacy will be measured using the Observer Reported Outcome (ObsRO) scale of health based on the genetic-based dosing between the groups.
Time Frame: 9 months
The efficacy of dichloroacetate will be determined by using the Observer Reported Outcome (ObsRO) measure of health based on the GSTZ1 haplotype status, genetic-based dosing. The ObsRO scores will be graded on a Likert Scale from 0-4. (0 being absent and 4 being extremely severe).
9 months
The efficacy will be measured using the Observer Reported Outcome (ObsRO) scale of health based on the age at randomization between the groups
Time Frame: 9 months
The efficacy of dichloroacetate will be determined by using the Observer Reported Outcome (ObsRO) measure of health based on the age at randomization. The ObsRO scores will be graded on a Likert Scale from 0-4. (0 being absent and 4 being extremely severe).
9 months
The efficacy will be measured using the Observer Reported Outcome (ObsRO) scale of health based on the dietary fat intake between the groups
Time Frame: 9 months
The efficacy of dichloroacetate will be determined by using the Observer Reported Outcome (ObsRO) measure of health based on the dietary fat intake. The ObsRO scores will be graded on a Likert Scale from 0-4. (0 being absent and 4 being extremely severe).
9 months

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Collaborators

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Richard Neibeger, MD, University of Florida

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

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)

July 14, 2020

Primary Completion (Estimated)

August 27, 2025

Study Completion (Estimated)

August 27, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

November 17, 2015

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 24, 2015

First Posted (Estimated)

November 30, 2015

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 4, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 1, 2025

Last Verified

May 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

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

Yes

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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