Efficacy, Safety and Tolerability of Givinostat in Non-ambulant Patients With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (ULYSSES)

Randomised, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Multicentre Study to Evaluate the Efficacy, Safety and Tolerability of Givinostat in Non-ambulant Patients With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

This is a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre study to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of givinostat in non-ambulant male paediatric (aged 9 to <18 years) patients with DMD. 138 patients will be randomised 2:1 to givinostat or placebo and will be treated for 18 months.

• Planned screening duration: approximately 4 weeks (±14 days)
• Planned treatment duration: 18 months (approximately 72 weeks)
• Planned follow-up duration: 4 weeks (±7 days) (for patients not participating in the long-term safety study)
• Total duration of study participation: up to 83 weeks (ie, 20-21 months)

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Givinostat; Drug: Placebo

Detailed Description

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a rare, progressive, debilitating and life-threatening condition for which there is a critical need for novel therapies that are effective and well-tolerated in all DMD patients. Steroids are generally recognised as the standard of care in the general DMD population; however, they are not suitable for all patients.

Givinostat, a HDAC inhibitor, was developed for the treatment of DMD based on: (i) the role that increased HDAC activity is thought to exert in contributing to DMD pathogenesis; and (ii) givinostat's ability to counter the pathophysiological and degenerative mechanisms causing muscle insufficiency in boys with DMD.

This study will evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of givinostat in non-ambulant patients to further corroborate data from the completed phase 3 pivotal study of givinostat in ambulant patients with DMD (ie, Study DSC/14/2357/48, NCT02851797). Primary Objective of the study is to demonstrate the efficacy of givinostat in reducing muscle decline in non-ambulant DMD patients, as measured by Performance of the Upper Limb (PUL) 2.0. Secondary Objectives of the study are to evaluate the safety and tolerability of givinostat in non-ambulant DMD patients, and to further explore the efficacy of givinostat in non-ambulant DMD patients.

A total of 138 patients are planned for enrolment. Patients will be randomised 2:1 to givinostat or placebo and will be treated for 18 months.

The study will be comprised of:

• A screening period, during which eligibility will be confirmed within 4 weeks (±14 days)
• A baseline visit, during which randomisation will be performed
• A double-blind treatment period, during which patients will receive either givinostat or placebo for 18 months (approximately 72 weeks)
• An end of study visit, occurring at Week 72 (±7 days) at the end of the treatment period. At the end of study visit, all the patients (regardless of treatment arm) will be offered enrolment in the long-term safety study DSC/14/2357/51 (NCT03373968) during which they will receive givinostat.
• A follow-up visit, for those patients not consenting to participation in the long-term safety study, that will occur 4 weeks after the end of study visit (ie, Week 76 ±7 days).

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 138
• Phase: Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Italfarmaco Patient Advocacy; Phone Number: +39 02 6443 1; Email: patientadvocacy@italfarmacogroup.com

Study Locations

• Belgium
  • Leuven, Belgium, 3000
    • Recruiting
    • Universitaire Ziekenhuizen Leuven
    • Contact: Phone Number: +3216348177; Email: eline.cuveele@uzleuven.be
    • Principal Investigator: Liesbeth De Waele, MD
• Canada
  • British Columbia
    • Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6H 3V4
      • Recruiting
      • British Columbia Children's Hospital
      • Principal Investigator: Kathryn Selby, MD
      • Contact: Phone Number: 6549 604-875-2345; Email: Nmartic3@cw.bc.ca
  • Ontario
    • London, Ontario, Canada, N6A 5W9
      • Recruiting
      • The University of Western Ontario - Children's Health Research Institute
      • Principal Investigator: Craig Campbell, MD
      • Contact: Phone Number: +1 519-685-8441; Email: rhiannon.hicks@lhsc.on.ca
    • Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1H 8L1
      • Recruiting
      • University of Ottawa - Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario
      • Principal Investigator: Hugh McMillan, MD
      • Contact: Phone Number: 4017 +1 613-737-7600; Email: ehillsmith@cheo.on.ca
    • Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4G 1R8
      • Recruiting
      • University of Toronto - Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital
      • Principal Investigator: Laura McAdam, MD
      • Contact: Email: neuromuscular.research@hollandbloorview.ca
• France
  • Lille, France, 59037
    • Recruiting
    • Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire de Lille
    • Principal Investigator: Jean-Baptiste Davion, MD
    • Contact: Phone Number: +33 (3) 20 44 60 58; Email: cicpediatrie@chru-lille.fr
  • Marseille, France, 13385
    • Recruiting
    • Centre hospitalier universitaire - Hôpitaux de Marseille
    • Contact: Phone Number: +33 4 91 38 68 17; Email: cecile.halbert@ap-hm.fr
    • Principal Investigator: Cecile Halbert, MD
  • Paris, France, 75935
    • Recruiting
    • Hôpital Armand-Trousseau - I-Motion
    • Contact: Phone Number: +33 1 44 73 65 37; Email: consultation-imotion@institut-myologie.org
    • Principal Investigator: Marina Colella, MD
• Germany
  • Berlin, Germany, 10117
    • Recruiting
    • Charite-Universitaetsmedizin Berlin
    • Contact: Email: neuropaed-studie@charite.de
    • Principal Investigator: Joanna Schneider, MD
  • Freiburg, Germany, 53113
    • Recruiting
    • Universitaetsklinikum Freiburg
    • Principal Investigator: Janbernd Kirschner, MD
    • Contact: Phone Number: +49 (0)76127043000; Email: muskelzentrum@uniklinik-freiburg.de
• Italy
  • Lecco, Italy, 23842
    • Recruiting
    • Associazione La Nostra Famiglia - IRCCS Eugenio Medea - Bosisio Parini
    • Principal Investigator: Maria Grazia D´Angelo, MD
    • Contact: Phone Number: +39031-877111; Email: grazia.dangelo@lanostrafamiglia.it
  • Milano, Italy, 20162
    • Recruiting
    • Fondazione Serena Onlus - Azienda Ospedaliera Niguarda Ca' Granda - NeuroMuscular Omnicentre
    • Principal Investigator: Valeria Sansone, MD
    • Contact: Phone Number: (+39) 0291433764; Email: crc@centrocliniconemo.it
  • Padova, Italy, 35128
    • Recruiting
    • Universita degli Studi di Padova - Azienda Ospedaliera di Padova
    • Principal Investigator: Elena Pegoraro, MD
    • Contact: Phone Number: +39 049 8213622; Email: elena.pegoraro@unipd.it
    • Contact: Email: luca.bello@unipd.it
  • Roma, Italy, 00165
    • Recruiting
    • Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesu
    • Principal Investigator: Adele D´Amico, MD
    • Contact: Phone Number: +39 06 68592105; Email: adele2.damico@opbg.net
    • Contact: Email: clinicineuromuscolari@OPBGMAIL.onmicrosoft.com
  • Roma, Italy, 00165
    • Recruiting
    • Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli - Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
    • Contact: Phone Number: +39 0630158576; Email: eugeniomaria.mercuri@policlinicogemelli.it
    • Principal Investigator: Eugenio M Mercuri, MD
• Netherlands
  • Leiden, Netherlands, 2300 RC
    • Recruiting
    • Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum (LUMC)
    • Principal Investigator: Erik Niks, MD
    • Contact: Email: duchenne@lumc.nl
  • Nijmegen, Netherlands, 6500 HB
    • Recruiting
    • Radboud Universitair Medisch Centrum (Radboudumc)
    • Contact: Phone Number: +31(0)650176591; Email: clinicaltrials.reval@radboudumc.nl
    • Principal Investigator: Saskia Houwen-van Opstal, MD
• United Kingdom
  • England
    • Newcastle Upon Tyne, England, United Kingdom, NE1 3BZ
      • Active, not recruiting
      • Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust - Newcastle University
    • Oxford, England, United Kingdom, OX3 9DU
      • Withdrawn
      • Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
  • Scotland
    • Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom, G51 4TF
      • Active, not recruiting
      • NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde - Royal Hospital for Children

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Patients must satisfy all the following criteria:

1. Children and adolescent males aged ≥ 9 to <18 years at screening (patients ≥ 18 years of age at screening will not be enrolled into the study)
2. Are able to give informed assent and/or consent in writing signed by the patient and/or parent/legal guardian (according to local regulations)
3. A genetic diagnosis of DMD

4. Non-ambulant, defined as being wheelchair bound and:

   1. Unable to perform the 10-meter walk/run test (10MWT), or
   2. Unable to complete the 10MWT in 30 seconds or less, without any support or devices
5. Performance of the Upper Limb test (PUL version 2.0) entry item scores 3 to 6
6. If on medication for DMD-associated cardiomyopathy (eg, ACE inhibitor, β-blocker, diuretics), stable for ≥1 month immediately prior to start of study treatment, if any

7. Stable corticosteroids, defined as:

   1. Receiving systemic corticosteroids for a minimum of 6 months immediately prior to start of study treatment
   2. No significant change in dose or dosing regimen (except for adjustments due to body weight change) for a minimum of 6 months immediately prior to start of study treatment

8. Willing to use adequate contraception. Effective contraceptive methods must be used from randomisation visit through 3 months after the last dose of study drug, and include the following:

   1. True abstinence (ie, absence of any sexual intercourse), when in line with the preferred and usual lifestyle of the patient. Periodic abstinence (eg, calendar, ovulation, post-ovulation, and symptothermal methods) and withdrawal are not acceptable methods of contraception
   2. Condom with spermicide and the female partner must use an effective method of contraception, such as an oral, transdermal, injectable or implanted hormonal contraceptive; intrauterine device; bilateral tubal occlusion, or a diaphragm or a barrier method of contraception in conjunction with spermicidal jelly such as for example cervical cap with spermicide jelly.

Exclusion Criteria:

Patients will be excluded from the study if they satisfy any of the following criteria:

1. Exposure to another investigational drug within 3 months prior to start of study treatment.
2. Have exposure to any dystrophin restoration product (eg, Ataluren, Exon skipping) within 6 months prior to the start of study treatment
3. Having received any gene therapy (eg, AAV Micro-dystrophin delivery) prior to start of study treatment
4. Use of any pharmacologic treatment or supplement (other than corticosteroids), that might have had an effect on muscle strength or function within 3 months prior to the start of study treatment (eg, growth hormone); vitamin D, calcium and any other supplements will be allowed
5. Use of testosterone, unless used as a replacement therapy for the treatment of delayed puberty. The testosterone dose and regimen should be stable within 6 months prior to the start of study treatment, and circulating testosterone levels should be within the normal ranges for the patient's age
6. Elbow-flexion contractures >30° in the dominant arm
7. Inability to perform consistent PUL 2.0 measurement within ±2 points without shoulder domain or within ±3 points with shoulder domain during paired testing at screening
8. Forced Vital Capacity % of predicted <40%
9. Requirement for daytime ventilator assistance (Note: Night ventilator assistance and use of bi-level positive airway pressure therapy is allowed)
10. Episode of respiratory failure within the 8 weeks prior to screening
11. Symptomatic cardiomyopathy or heart failure and/or left ventricular ejection fraction <45%
12. Baseline corrected QT interval using Fredericia's formula (QTcF) >450 msec (as the mean of 3 consecutive readings 5 minutes apart) or history of additional risk factors for torsades de pointes (eg, heart failure, hypokalaemia, or family history of long QT syndrome)
13. Major surgical procedure (including scoliosis surgery) planned within 1 year of the start of study treatment
14. Poorly controlled asthma or underlying lung disease such as bronchitis, bronchiectasis, emphysema, recurrent pneumonia that in the opinion of the Investigator might impact respiratory function
15. Platelets, white blood cells, and/or haemoglobin < lower limit of normal (LLN) at screening (Note: for abnormal screening laboratory test results [<LLN], the platelets count, white blood cell, and haemoglobin will be repeated once; if the repeat test result is still <LLN, the patient should be excluded)
16. Fasting triglycerides >300 mg/dL (3.42 mmol/L) at screening (Note: if the value is >300 mg/dL, the triglycerides will be repeated once; if the repeated test result is still >300 mg/dL, the patient should be excluded)
17. Current or history of liver disease or impairment, including but not limited to a baseline elevated total bilirubin (ie, >1.5 × upper limit of normal [ULN]), unless secondary to Gilbert disease or pattern consistent with Gilbert disease
18. Inadequate renal function, as defined by serum Cystatin C result >2 × ULN (Note: if the value is >2 × ULN, the serum Cystatin C will be repeated once; if the repeated test result is still >2 × ULN, the patient should be excluded)
19. Positive test for hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis C antibody, or human immunodeficiency virus at screening
20. Hypersensitivity to any component of study medication
21. Sorbitol intolerance or malabsorption, or have the hereditary form of fructose intolerance
22. Diagnosis of other uncontrolled neurological diseases or presence of relevant uncontrolled somatic disorders that are not related to DMD, based on Investigator judgement
23. Psychiatric illness or social situations rendering the potential patient unable to understand and comply with the muscle function tests and/or with the study protocol procedures, based on Investigator judgement
24. Have contraindications to MRI scan (eg, claustrophobia, metal implants, or uncontrolled seizure disorder), based on Investigator's judgement.

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
Experimental: Givinostat; Patients will receive concomitant corticosteroid treatment as part of the standard of care.	Drug: Givinostat; Givinostat has to be administered twice daily in a fed state according to a flexible dose regimen based on patient weight. Starting dose could be reduced based on predefined safety rules.; Other Names: ITF2357
Placebo Comparator: Placebo; Patients will receive concomitant corticosteroid treatment as part of the standard of care.	Drug: Placebo; Placebo, manufactured to mimic givinostat, has to be administered twice daily in a fed state according to a flexible dose regimen based on patient weight. Starting dose could be reduced based on predefined safety rules.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change of Performance of Upper Limb 2.0 (PUL) total score at 18 months of treatment of givinostat compared to placebo group.	The PUL examines 3 major "dimensions" of upper extremity function: shoulder, middle, and distal functions. It includes 22 scored items; a score of 42 (12 for shoulder; 17 for mid-level, and 13 for distal) indicates the highest level of independent function and 0 the lowest.	Baseline and 18 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Change from baseline of Peak Expiratory Flow percent predicted (PEF%p) at 18 months of treatment of givinostat compared to placebo group	Baseline and 18 months
Change from baseline of Forced Vital Capacity percent predicted (FVC%p) at 18 months of treatment of givinostat compared to placebo group	Baseline and 18 months
Cumulative loss of PUL total score over 18 months of treatment of givinostat compared to placebo group.	Baseline to 18 months
Type, incidence, and severity of treatment-emergent adverse events	Baseline to 18 months
Proportion of patients experiencing treatment-emergent adverse events	Baseline to 18 months
Change from baseline vital signs and clinical laboratory tests	Baseline and 18 months
Change from baseline electrocardiogram and echocardiogram	Baseline and 18 months
Time to assisted ventilation and rate of respiratory infection including duration, severity of respiratory infection and use of antibiotics, of givinostat compared to placebo group.	Baseline to 18 months

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change from baseline of Fat Fraction of Deltoid and Biceps brachii using Dixon technique at 18 months of treatment of givinostat compared to placebo group		Baseline and 18 months
Proportion of responders of givinostat compared to placebo group	Responders are defined as patients who did not change their baseline PUL entry score at the EOS	Baseline to 18 months
Change from baseline of shoulder, elbow and distal level domains of PUL at 18 months of treatment of givinostat compared to placebo group		Baseline and 18 months
Change from baseline in muscle strength (eg, elbow flexion) evaluated by hand held myometry at 18 months of treatment of givinostat compared to placebo group		Baseline and 18 months
Change from baseline in grip strength of dominant hand as measured by Jamar Smart Hand dynamometer at 18 months of treatment of givinostat compared to placebo group		Baseline and 18 months
Change from baseline in physical function as measured by Egen Klassifikation (EK) score at 18 months of treatment of givinostat compared to placebo group		Baseline and 18 months
Change from baseline as measured by Motor Function Measure (MFM) at 18 months of treatment of givinostat compared to placebo group		Baseline and 18 months
Change from baseline of Peak Cough Flow (PCF) at 18 months of treatment of givinostat compared to placebo group		Baseline and 18 months
Age at loss of hand-to-mouth function assessed by PUL		Baseline to 18 months
Age at loss of turn in bed ability assessed by EK		Baseline to 18 months
Change from baseline in DMD Upper Limb Patient-Reported Outcome Measures questionnaire scores at 18 months of treatment of givinostat compared to placebo group		Baseline and 18 months
Change from baseline in quality of life (as measured by Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 Generic Core and 3.0 Neuromuscular Module) at 18 months of treatment of givinostat compared to placebo group		Baseline and 18 months
Change from baseline in reports of activities of daily living (as measured by Barthel index) at 18 months of treatment of givinostat compared to placebo group		Baseline and 18 months
Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Endpoints	PK parameters including, but not limited to, Cmax, T1/2, and AUC, will be assessed using sparse sampling. PD parameters will include PUL, FVC, PEF, MFM, and muscle strength	Baseline and 18 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Italfarmaco
• Collaborators: Fortrea

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Bettica P, Petrini S, D'Oria V, D'Amico A, Catteruccia M, Pane M, Sivo S, Magri F, Brajkovic S, Messina S, Vita GL, Gatti B, Moggio M, Puri PL, Rocchetti M, De Nicolao G, Vita G, Comi GP, Bertini E, Mercuri E. Histological effects of givinostat in boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Neuromuscul Disord. 2016 Oct;26(10):643-649. doi: 10.1016/j.nmd.2016.07.002. Epub 2016 Jul 11.
• Consalvi S, Mozzetta C, Bettica P, Germani M, Fiorentini F, Del Bene F, Rocchetti M, Leoni F, Monzani V, Mascagni P, Puri PL, Saccone V. Preclinical studies in the mdx mouse model of duchenne muscular dystrophy with the histone deacetylase inhibitor givinostat. Mol Med. 2013 May 20;19(1):79-87. doi: 10.2119/molmed.2013.00011.
• Mercuri E, Vilchez JJ, Boespflug-Tanguy O, Zaidman CM, Mah JK, Goemans N, Muller-Felber W, Niks EH, Schara-Schmidt U, Bertini E, Comi GP, Mathews KD, Servais L, Vandenborne K, Johannsen J, Messina S, Spinty S, McAdam L, Selby K, Byrne B, Laverty CG, Carroll K, Zardi G, Cazzaniga S, Coceani N, Bettica P, McDonald CM; EPIDYS Study Group. Safety and efficacy of givinostat in boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (EPIDYS): a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial. Lancet Neurol. 2024 Apr;23(4):393-403. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(24)00036-X. Erratum In: Lancet Neurol. 2024 Jun;23(6):e10. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(24)00172-8. Lancet Neurol. 2024 Aug;23(8):e12. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(24)00257-6.

Helpful Links

• ULYSSES website

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 19, 2024
• Primary Completion (Estimated): February 1, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): February 1, 2028

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 16, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 27, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): July 6, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 11, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 9, 2025
• Last Verified: May 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy; givinostat
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Musculoskeletal Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Muscular Diseases; Neuromuscular Diseases; Genetic Diseases, Inborn; Genetic Diseases, X-Linked; Muscular Disorders, Atrophic; Muscular Dystrophies; Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Enzyme Inhibitors; Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors; Givinostat hydrochloride
• Other Study ID Numbers: DSC/14/2357/50; 2023-503521-19 (EudraCT Number); U1111-1295-1799 (Other Identifier: Universal Trial Number (UTN)); 1008441 (Other Identifier: IRAS ID); 277453 (Other Identifier: Health Canada)

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: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No