Intranasal Insulin for Improving Cognitive Function in Multiple Sclerosis

February 10, 2023 updated by: Johns Hopkins University
This study will evaluate if giving insulin that is administered in the nostrils (intranasal) is safe and tolerable for people with multiple sclerosis (MS). It is also being done to evaluate if intranasal insulin improves cognitive function in people with MS and to evaluate how it might be working.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Cognitive impairment is common in and devastating to people with MS. MS is a common, chronic, central nervous system (CNS) disease characterized by inflammation, demyelination, and neurodegeneration. One of the most devastating symptoms of this disease is impaired cognitive function, which is common and present in over 60% of individuals with MS. MS-related cognitive impairment is associated with lowered quality of life and reduced functional capacity, including loss of employment, impaired social relationships, compromised driving safety, and poor adherence to treatment. Impaired cognitive functioning has been observed early in the disease, sometimes even before diagnosis, and cognitive function has been shown to decline longitudinally, both over the short- and long-term. Several cognitive domains are impacted in people with MS, including attention, memory, executive functioning, and especially processing speed.

To date, multiple pharmacologic interventions have been assessed with disappointing results. There was no significant difference between treatment and placebo for cognition in randomized control trials of donepezil, aminopyridines, gingko biloba, and memantine. Psychostimulants demonstrated some efficacy, but only in secondary outcome measures. Behavioral interventions show promise but are understudied. Furthermore, cognitive rehabilitation is often time consuming, costly, and not universally available. Hence, there is an urgent need to identify or develop novel therapies that can help improve cognitive function in MS.

Intranasal insulin is extremely safe and tolerable in other populations, allowing for concentrated delivery to the nervous system. An intranasal delivery system provides a non-invasive way to bypass the blood-brain barrier and allow rapid delivery of a medication to the CNS via the olfactory and trigeminal perivascular channels.The main advantage of the delivery system is reducing systemic side effects via limiting a medication's exposure to peripheral organs and tissues.

Insulin administration has been shown to improve memory and learning in healthy people and in those with neurodegenerative diseases. Intranasal insulin has been shown to have neuroprotective and restorative effects in several human clinical trials. Overall, findings suggest that intranasal insulin not only affects cognitive function acutely, but that over time, there may be associated structural changes that lead to a more permanent treatment benefit. Cognitive dysfunction is very common in MS and can be devastating, therefore a treatment intervention (i.e., intranasal insulin) can help both acutely and longitudinally.

The primary aim of this study is to assess the safety and tolerability of intranasal insulin in people with MS. The secondary aim is to evaluate if intranasal insulin improves learning and memory in people with MS. The third aim is to evaluate the impact of intranasal insulin on measures of oxidative stress, axonal injury, cellular stress, and energy metabolism in MS.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

105

Phase

  • Phase 2
  • Phase 1

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

  • United States
    • Maryland
      • Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21287
        • Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

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

18 years to 70 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Meets 2010 criteria for MS
  • No relapse in past 3 months
  • At least mild cognitive impairment (based off of SDMT/PST score)
  • Capacity to learn and self-administer intranasal insulin/placebo, or presence of a caregiver with such capacity who is willing to do it for the duration of the trial
  • Untreated/on the same MS therapy for at least 6 months, with no anticipated change in the next year
  • Willing to prevent pregnancy during study if female of childbearing potential

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Current, active major depression
  • No tricyclic antidepressant or anticonvulsant (except carbamazepine, pregabalin or gabapentin) use within 6 weeks of screening; if on oxybutynin or tolterodine, on stable dose for > 6 months without plans for changing dose in next year
  • If taking selective serotonin (± norepinephrine) reuptake inhibitors, pregabalin, gabapentin, sympathomimetic, monoamine oxidase inhibitor, antipsychotic, amantadine, cholinesterase inhibitor, memantine, modafanil, armodafinil, or evening short-acting benzodiazepines, on stable dose for 6 weeks or greater
  • Pregnant or nursing
  • THC; illicit drug or alcohol abuse in past 3 months
  • History of diabetes mellitus or insulin resistance
  • Active liver disease, stage IV/V kidney disease or severe metabolic derangements
  • CNS disorder other than MS or headache

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: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Quadruple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Intranasal insulin 20 international units
Subjects will administer 20 I.U. of insulin in the nostrils using a ViaNaseTM controlled particle dispersion nasal device two times/day (BID) for 24 weeks.
Drug: Insulin
All patients will receive either insulin or placebo using the Vianase III N2B device during the first 24 weeks of the study.
Experimental: Intranasal insulin 10 international units
Subjects will administer 10 I.U. of insulin in the nostrils using a ViaNaseTM controlled particle dispersion nasal device two times/day (BID) for 24 weeks.
Drug: Insulin
All patients will receive either insulin or placebo using the Vianase III N2B device during the first 24 weeks of the study.
Placebo Comparator: Intranasal saline
Subjects will administer a sterile diluent containing inactive ingredients in the nostrils using a ViaNaseTM controlled particle dispersion nasal device two times/day (BID) for 24 weeks.
Drug: Placebo (Sterile diluent)
All patients will receive either insulin or placebo using Vianase III N2B device during the first 24 weeks of the study.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Cognitive Function as Assessed by the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT)
Time Frame: Up to week 24 visit
This task will be performed at five study visits. The SDMT is one of the most commonly used tests to assess processing speed in the MS population and is included in the Minimal Assessment of Cognitive Function in MS (MACFIMS). Higher scores reflect a better outcome (range 0 to 110). In order to account for all contributed data (even for those who did not complete the study but contributed some post-randomization data in the active study phase), the primary analyses include the SDMTs acquired within the active treatment phase (from baseline to week 24 visit). We then calculated and report the average change per week in the SDMT.
Up to week 24 visit

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Number of Participants With Adverse Events Leading to Study Discontinuation
Time Frame: Up to week 24 visit
An adverse event will be defined as any occurrence or worsening of an undesirable or unintended sign, symptom (or abnormal laboratory test), or disease temporally associated with the use of a medicinal product or intervention, whether or not it is considered related to the product/intervention. We report overall adverse events in the relevant section. Here, we report adverse events that led to study discontinuation.
Up to week 24 visit
Fingerstick Blood Glucose (Subset)
Time Frame: At the baseline visit, monitored twice within the 90 minutes following the first dose administration of study drug
Fingerstick blood glucose levels were monitored twice within the 90 minutes following the first dose administration of study drug for the first 15 participants.
At the baseline visit, monitored twice within the 90 minutes following the first dose administration of study drug
Change From Baseline in Cognitive Function as Assessed by the Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT)
Time Frame: Up to week 24 visit
This test measures phonemic fluency. The test scores the number of words a participant can provide that begin with a specified letter within one minute, such that scores range from zero (worst) to an infinite number (better). Total score is sum of three 60-second trials. In order to account for all contributed data (even for those who did not complete the study but contributed some post-randomization data in the active study phase), the primary analyses include the COWAT scores acquired within the active treatment phase (from baseline to week 24 visit). We then calculated and report the average change per week in the score.
Up to week 24 visit
Change From Baseline in Cognitive Function as Assessed by the California Verbal Learning Test, Second Edition (CVLT-II)
Time Frame: Up to week 24 visit
This is a verbal learning and memory test. Scores range from zero to 16; a higher number is better. In order to account for all contributed data (even for those who did not complete the study but contributed some post-randomization data in the active study phase), the primary analyses include the CVLT-II scores acquired within the active treatment phase (from baseline to week 24 visit). We then calculated and report the average change per week in the score.
Up to week 24 visit
Change From Baseline in Cognitive Function as Assessed by the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test - Revised (BVMT-R) Delayed Recall
Time Frame: Up to week 24 visit
This is a visual, nonverbal test of learning and memory. Scores range from zero to 12; higher is better. In order to account for all contributed data (even for those who did not complete the study but contributed some post-randomization data in the active study phase), the analyses include the BVMT-R delayed recall scores acquired within the active treatment phase (from baseline to week 24 visit). We then calculated and report the average change per week in the score.
Up to week 24 visit
Change in Cognitive Function as Assessed by the Rao-version of the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT)
Time Frame: Up to week 24 visit
The Rao-version of the PASAT evaluates processing speed, working memory, and basic addition skills. Scores range from zero to 60; higher is better. Herein we present 3-second PASAT results ("PASAT-3"). In order to account for all contributed data (even for those who did not complete the study but contributed some post-randomization data in the active study phase), the analyses include PASAT-3 scores acquired within the active treatment phase (from baseline to week 24 visit). We then calculated and report the average change per week in the SDMT.
Up to week 24 visit
Change From Baseline in Cognitive Function as Assessed by the Judgement of Line Orientation Test (JLO)
Time Frame: Up to week 24 visit
Judgment of Line Orientation Test measures a person's ability to match the angle and orientation of lines in space. Scores range from zero to 30; higher is better. In order to account for all contributed data (even for those who did not complete the study but contributed some post-randomization data in the active study phase), the analyses include JLO data acquired within the active treatment phase (from baseline to week 24 visit). We then calculated and report the average change per week in the score.
Up to week 24 visit
Change From Baseline in Cognitive Function as Assessed by the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System Sorting Test
Time Frame: Up to week 24 visit
This test measures executive functioning, concept formation, and cognitive flexibility. Scores range from zero to 16; higher is better. In order to account for all contributed data (even for those who did not complete the study but contributed some post-randomization data in the active study phase), the analyses include DKEFS correct sort scores acquired within the active treatment phase (from baseline to week 24 visit). We then calculated and report the average change per week in the score.
Up to week 24 visit

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Assess Depression Severity, as Measured by the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II)
Time Frame: Up to week 24 visit
The BDI-II is a 21-question multiple-choice self-report inventory test for measuring the severity of depression. Scores range from zero to 63; higher scores indicate greater depression. In order to account for all contributed data (even for those who did not complete the study but contributed some post-randomization data in the active study phase), the analyses include the BDI-II scores acquired within the active treatment phase (from baseline to week 24 visit). We then calculated and report the average change per week in the scores.
Up to week 24 visit
Evaluation of Impact of Study Products on Health Related Quality of Life Using the Functional Assessment of Multiple Sclerosis Questionnaire (FAMS)
Time Frame: Up to week 24 visit
FAMS is a self-reported health-related quality-of-life instrument for people with multiple sclerosis. Subjects rate six quality-of-life domains: Mobility, Symptoms, Emotional well-being, General contentment, Thinking/fatigue, and Family/social well-being. Scores range from zero to 176; higher scores indicate better health-related quality of life. In order to account for all contributed data (even for those who did not complete the study but contributed some post-randomization data in the active study phase), the analyses include the FAMS scores acquired within the active treatment phase (from baseline to week 24 visit). We then calculated and report the average change per week in the score.
Up to week 24 visit
Evaluation of How Overall Sleep Quality Impacts People With MS Using a Sleep Questionnaire (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index)
Time Frame: Up to week 24 visit
The sleep questionnaire asks subjects to report various aspects related to their sleep routine. Scores range from zero to 21; higher score indicates worse sleep quality. In order to account for all contributed data (even for those who did not complete the study but contributed some post-randomization data in the active study phase), the analyses include the PSQIs acquired within the active treatment phase (from baseline to week 24 visit). We then calculated and report the average change per week in the score.
Up to week 24 visit

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Johns Hopkins University

Collaborators

United States Department of Defense

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Ellen Mowry, MD, MCR, Johns Hopkins University
  • Principal Investigator: Scott Newsome, DO, Johns Hopkins University

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)

December 1, 2017

Primary Completion (Actual)

December 17, 2021

Study Completion (Actual)

December 17, 2021

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

December 7, 2016

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

December 7, 2016

First Posted (Estimate)

December 9, 2016

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

March 10, 2023

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 10, 2023

Last Verified

February 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • IRB00095554

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

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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