- ICH GCP
- US Clinical Trials Registry
- Clinical Trial NCT04516057
Nabilone for Agitation Blinded Intervention Trial (NAB-IT)
This study will look at whether nabilone is an effective treatment for agitation in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. Agitation is highly prevalent in patients with AD and is one of the most distressing and challenging-to-treat symptoms. Agitation is associated with faster progression to institutionalization, increased caregiver burden, poorer quality of life, and increased risk of death. In addition, current pharmacological options show only modest efficacy and elevated risks of adverse events. Therefore, identifying safer and more effective treatments for agitation in AD is a clinical and research priority.
Nabilone is a synthetic cannabinoid that is Health Canada-approved to treat chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
The PI's research group completed a 6-week double-blind placebo-controlled randomized cross-over pilot trial in 38 patients with moderate-to-severe AD, providing the first preliminary evidence regarding the safety and efficacy of nabilone in this population. They found that nabilone significantly improved agitation, overall neuropsychiatric symptoms, and caregiver distress. That study was limited by its sample size and questions remain regarding the efficacy of nabilone for nutrition and pain and predictors of response. However, the promising preliminary findings encourage a pivotal, practice-changing phase III trial to inform clinical practice.
Participants in this study will be randomized to receive either nabilone or a placebo for 8 weeks. In addition to looking at the effectiveness of nabilone in treating agitation, the researchers will also look at whether it is beneficial for other relevant outcomes for patients with AD including overall neuropsychiatric symptoms, caregiver distress, cognition, nutritional status, and pain. Participants will also be followed for 8 weeks following completion of the study treatment.
Study Overview
Status
Conditions
Intervention / Treatment
Study Type
Enrollment (Estimated)
Phase
- Phase 3
Contacts and Locations
Study Contact
- Name: NAB-IT Coordinating Centre
- Phone Number: 5630 416-480-6100
- Email: NAB-IT@sunnybrook.ca
Study Locations
-
-
Alberta
-
Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2N 4N1
- Recruiting
- University of Calgary
-
Contact:
- Ramnik Sekhon
- Email: ramnik.sekhon@ucalgary.ca
-
-
Ontario
-
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4N 3M5
- Recruiting
- Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
-
Contact:
- Abby Li
- Email: Abby.Li@sunnybrook.ca
-
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Recruiting
- St. Michael's Hospital
-
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Recruiting
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
-
Whitby, Ontario, Canada, L1N 5S9
- Recruiting
- Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences
-
Contact:
- Elaina Niciforos
- Email: niciforose@ontarioshores.ca
-
-
Participation Criteria
Eligibility Criteria
Ages Eligible for Study
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Description
Inclusion Criteria:
- Males or females ≥55 years of age; females must be post-menopausal
- Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 (DSM 5) criteria for Major Neurocognitive Disorder due to AD. Patients with Major Neurocognitive Disorder due to multiple etiologies (AD and vascular) will be included
- sMMSE ≤24
- Presence of clinically significant agitation based on the IPA definition
- If treated with cognitive-enhancing medications (cholinesterase inhibitors and/or memantine), dosage must be stable for at least 3 months prior to study randomization
- Availability of a primary caregiver to accompany the participant to study visits and to participate in the study. The primary caregiver must be sufficiently proficient in English to complete the required study assessments, as per investigator judgement.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Change in psychotropic medications less than 1 week prior to study randomization (e.g., concomitant antidepressants)
- Contraindications to cannabinoids, e.g. allergies to cannabis and cannabis products, potential clinically important drug-drug interactions
- Current uncontrolled cardiovascular disease (e.g. uncontrolled hypertension, ischemic heart disease, arrhythmia and severe heart failure), as per investigator assessment
- Current significant liver disease, as per investigator assessment
- Presence or history of other psychiatric disorders or neurological conditions (e.g. psychotic disorders, schizophrenia, stroke, epilepsy)
- Participants currently meeting DSM 5 criteria for Major Depressive Episode (MDE)
- Previous or current abuse of/dependence on marijuana
- Clinically significant delusions and/or hallucinations (NPI-NH delusion/hallucinations subscore ≥4)
- Reported recreational use of marijuana or other cannabis products within 3 months prior to study randomization
Study Plan
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: Nabilone Arm
Participants randomized to the nabilone arm will be titrated up to a maximum dose of 2 mg/day.
|
After the screening period, participants randomized to the nabilone arm will receive nabilone for 8 weeks.
Participants will then be followed for 8 weeks following completion of the study treatment.
Other Names:
|
Placebo Comparator: Placebo Arm
Participants randomized to the placebo arm will receive placebo capsules.
|
After the screening period, participants randomized to the placebo arm will receive placebo capsules for 8 weeks.
Participants will then be followed for 8 weeks following completion of the study treatment.
|
What is the study measuring?
Primary Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Measure Description |
Time Frame |
---|---|---|
Agitation - Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI)
Time Frame: Baseline (0 Weeks) to 8 Weeks
|
A 29-point scale that measures agitation in two dimensions, verbal and physical, each of which having two poles, aggressive and non-aggressive.
Scores range from 29-203 points, with a higher score indicating a worse outcome.
This includes the CMAI IPA Agitation Score & CMAI IPA Delphi Modification, which are derived from the CMAI.
|
Baseline (0 Weeks) to 8 Weeks
|
Secondary Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Measure Description |
Time Frame |
---|---|---|
Behaviour - Neuropsychiatric Inventory - Nursing Home (NPI-NH)
Time Frame: Baseline (0 Weeks) to 8 Weeks
|
A widely used assessment of behaviour disturbances in dementia, including: apathy, agitation, delusions, hallucinations, depression, euphoria, aberrant motor behaviour, irritability, disinhibition, anxiety, sleeping, and eating.
The frequency and severity of these symptoms are judged on a 4-point and 3-point scale, respectively.
Scores range from 0-144 points, with a higher score indicating a worse outcome.
|
Baseline (0 Weeks) to 8 Weeks
|
Cognition - Standardized Mini-Mental State Examination (sMMSE)
Time Frame: Baseline (0 Weeks) to 8 Weeks
|
Measures global cognition, and assesses orientation to time and place, immediate recall, short-term verbal memory, calculation, language, and construct ability.
Scores range from 0-30 points, with a lower score indicating a worse outcome.
|
Baseline (0 Weeks) to 8 Weeks
|
Weight
Time Frame: Baseline (0 Weeks) to 8 Weeks
|
Baseline (0 Weeks) to 8 Weeks
|
|
Nutritional Status - Mini Nutritional Assessment - Short Form (MNA-SF)
Time Frame: Baseline (0 Weeks) to 8 Weeks
|
A structured interview consisting of 6 items that categorizes patients as malnourished, at risk of malnutrition, or of normal nutritional status.
Scores range from 0-14 points, with a lower score indicating a worse outcome.
|
Baseline (0 Weeks) to 8 Weeks
|
Pain - Pain Assessment Checklist for Seniors with Limited Ability to Communicate-II (PACSLAC-II)
Time Frame: Baseline (0 Weeks) to 8 Weeks
|
A 31-item observer-rated scale assessing facial expressions, activity/body movements, social/personality/mood indicators and mental status changes.
Scores range from 0-31 points, with a higher score indicating a worse outcome.
|
Baseline (0 Weeks) to 8 Weeks
|
Global Change - Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study - Clinical Global Impression of Severity/Change (ADCS-CGIS/C)
Time Frame: Baseline (0 Weeks) to 8 Weeks
|
A commonly-used clinician-rated scale that quantifies disease severity and clinical change (worsening, no change, or improvement), based on information regarding the patient's medical history, cognition, behaviour, and function.
Numerical scores are not assigned.
|
Baseline (0 Weeks) to 8 Weeks
|
Other Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Measure Description |
Time Frame |
---|---|---|
Sedation - Udvalg for Kliniske Undersøgelser (UKU) Side-Effect Rating Scale
Time Frame: Baseline (0 Weeks) to 8 Weeks
|
Sedation will be measured using the Sleepiness/Sedation subscale of the UKU-Side Effect Rating Scale.
The UKU is a clinician-rated scale that assesses the side effects of psychopharmacological medications.
Scores range from 0-3, with a higher score indicating more sleepiness/sedation.
|
Baseline (0 Weeks) to 8 Weeks
|
Collaborators and Investigators
Investigators
- Principal Investigator: Giovanni Marotta, MD, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
- Principal Investigator: Krista L. Lanctôt, PhD, Sunnybrook Research Institute
- Principal Investigator: Nathan Herrmann, MD, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Publications and helpful links
Study record dates
Study Major Dates
Study Start (Actual)
Primary Completion (Estimated)
Study Completion (Estimated)
Study Registration Dates
First Submitted
First Submitted That Met QC Criteria
First Posted (Actual)
Study Record Updates
Last Update Posted (Actual)
Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria
Last Verified
More Information
Terms related to this study
Keywords
Additional Relevant MeSH Terms
- Mental Disorders
- Brain Diseases
- Central Nervous System Diseases
- Nervous System Diseases
- Neurologic Manifestations
- Neurobehavioral Manifestations
- Neurocognitive Disorders
- Neurodegenerative Diseases
- Dyskinesias
- Psychomotor Disorders
- Dementia
- Tauopathies
- Psychomotor Agitation
- Alzheimer Disease
- Physiological Effects of Drugs
- Central Nervous System Depressants
- Autonomic Agents
- Peripheral Nervous System Agents
- Antiemetics
- Gastrointestinal Agents
- Tranquilizing Agents
- Psychotropic Drugs
- Anti-Anxiety Agents
- Nabilone
Other Study ID Numbers
- 1968
Drug and device information, study documents
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product
product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.
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.
Clinical Trials on Alzheimer Disease
-
ProgenaBiomeRecruitingAlzheimer Disease | Alzheimer Disease, Early Onset | Alzheimer Disease, Late Onset | Alzheimer Disease 1 | Alzheimer Disease 2 | Alzheimer Disease 3 | Alzheimer Disease 4 | Alzheimer Disease 7 | Alzheimer Disease 17 | Alzheimer Disease 5 | Alzheimer Disease 6 | Alzheimer Disease 8 | Alzheimer Disease 10 | Alzheimer... and other conditionsUnited States
-
Cognito Therapeutics, Inc.RecruitingCognitive Impairment | Dementia | Alzheimer Disease | Mild Cognitive Impairment | Cognitive Decline | Alzheimer Disease, Early Onset | Alzheimer Disease, Late Onset | MCI | Dementia Alzheimers | Mild Dementia | Dementia of Alzheimer Type | Cognitive Impairment, Mild | Alzheimer Disease 1 | Dementia, Mild | Alzheimer... and other conditionsUnited States
-
AphiosNot yet recruitingDementia | Alzheimer Disease 1 | Alzheimer Disease 2 | Alzheimer Disease 3
-
Capital Medical UniversityPeking University First Hospital; The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical... and other collaboratorsRecruitingAlzheimer Disease | Familial Alzheimer Disease (FAD)China
-
University of PennsylvaniaNational Institute on Aging (NIA)CompletedDementia | Alzheimer Disease, At Risk | Alzheimer Disease, Protection AgainstUnited States
-
Kyoto UniversityOsaka University; Mie University; Tokushima University; Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric... and other collaboratorsCompletedFamilial Alzheimer Disease (FAD) | PSEN1 MutationJapan
-
National Taiwan Normal UniversityCompletedAlzheimer Disease 2 Due to Apoe4 IsoformTaiwan
-
University of ArizonaNational Institute on Aging (NIA); University of Southern California; Syneos... and other collaboratorsRecruitingNeurodegenerative Diseases | Alzheimer Dementia | Late Onset Alzheimer DiseaseUnited States
-
Northwell HealthRecruitingAlzheimer Disease | Alzheimer Disease With Delusions | Alzheimer Disease With PsychosisUnited States
-
University of Kansas Medical CenterNational Institute on Aging (NIA)CompletedHealthy Aging | Alzheimer Disease 2 Due to Apoe4 IsoformUnited States
Clinical Trials on Nabilone
-
Centre for Addiction and Mental HealthRecruiting
-
University of ManitobaPopulation Health Research InstituteCompletedEnd Stage Renal Disease | PruritusCanada
-
Medical University InnsbruckCompleted
-
NEMA Research, Inc.CompletedEvaluation of the Efficacy of Cesamet™ for the Treatment of Pain in Patients With Multiple SclerosisMultiple SclerosisUnited States
-
University of ManitobaHealth Sciences Centre Foundation, Manitoba; Canadian Paraplegic Association; The Manitoba Spinal Cord Injury Research FundCompletedMuscle Spasticity as a Result of Spinal Cord InjuryCanada
-
University of ManitobaBausch Health Americas, Inc.CompletedMultiple Sclerosis | Neuropathic PainCanada
-
Medical University InnsbruckCompleted
-
University of CalgaryUnknownDiabetic NeuropathiesCanada
-
NEMA Research, Inc.CompletedPeripheral Neuropathy | Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy ProtocolsUnited States
-
NEMA Research, Inc.CompletedDiabetic NeuropathiesUnited States