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Familial Amyloid PolyneuropathyPhase 2/3NCT00294671

The Effect of Diflunisal on Familial Amyloidosis

A Phase 2/3 study testing diflunisal in people with Familial Amyloid Polyneuropathy and Familial Amyloidosis, run by Boston University at 8 sites in 5 countries.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

The purpose of this study is to determine if diflunisal can prevent progressive lower leg nerve damage in patients with familial amyloidosis polyneuropathy. Funding Source - FDA Office of Orphan Products Development (OOPD); National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 75 years
What is being tested?
diflunisal
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
130 participants
Where
8 sitesin 5 countries
Study dates
Feb 2006to Dec 2012
Phase
Phase 2/3
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 75 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Age 18 to 75 years
  • Biopsy proven amyloidosis
  • Genotyping of variant transthyretin
  • Signs of peripheral or autonomic neuropathy

Who cannot join

  • Use of other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
  • Other causes of sensorimotor polyneuropathy
  • Anticipated survival <2 years or liver transplantation in <1 yr
  • Liver transplantation
  • Profound nerve, heart or kidney impairment
  • Pregnancy or unwillingness to use contraception by women of childbearing age
  • Active or recent gastrointestinal bleeding
  • Non-steroidal or aspirin drug allergy/hypersensitivity

Trial locations and contacts

8 sites in 5 countries.

8 sites in 5 countries

United States3 sites
  • Amyloidosis Center, Boston Medical Center

    Boston, Massachusetts, 02118

  • Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Department of Medicine

    New York, New York, 10029-6574

  • Mayo Clinic Rochester

    Rochester, Minnesota, 55905

Other trials in United States

Japan2 sites
  • Kumamoto University

    Kumamoto, 860-0811

  • Shinshu University

    Matsumoto, 390-8621

Other trials in Japan

Italy1 site
  • IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo

    Pavia, 27100

Other trials in Italy

Sweden1 site
  • Umea University Hospital

    Umeå, SE-901 86

Other trials in Sweden

United Kingdom1 site
  • King's College Hospital

    London, SE5 9RS

Other trials in United Kingdom

About this study

The purpose of this study is to determine if diflunisal can prevent progressive lower leg nerve damage in patients with familial amyloidosis polyneuropathy.

Funding Source - FDA Office of Orphan Products Development (OOPD); National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Read the detailed description

Familial amyloidosis polyneuropathy (FAP) is a rare, lethal, autosomal dominant, neurodegenerative disease characterized by misfolding of variant transthyretin tetramer (TTR) - a transport protein produced by the liver. The disease causes TTR to become unstable, triggering amyloid fibrils to form and leading to peripheral and autonomic nerve dysfunction.

Currently, the only treatment for FAP is a liver transplant, which is expensive and risk-filled. Medicines are needed to treat this disease. Previous in vitro (in a test tube) studies have shown that a common anti-inflammatory drug called diflunisal stabilizes TTR, preventing the formation of amyloid fibrils.

The goal of this 2-year randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled research study is to establish whether diflunisal can stop the nerve damage, or peripheral neuropathy, resulting from amyloid production in patients with FAP. Scientists already know that diflunisal prevents formation of amyloid in the test tube. This study will determine if the drug can block amyloid production in FAP patients.

Participants will be randomly chosen to receive either diflunisal or an inactive (placebo) pill twice daily for 24 months. Participants will be carefully monitored through 7 follow-up visits, either at the study center or with individual primary care physicians. Participating in the study does not preclude patients from being listed for liver transplantation.

Being tested
diflunisal, placebo
Keywords
familial amyloid polyneuropathy, familial amyloidosis, diflunisal, amyloidosis, transthyretin, peripheral neuropathy, autonomic neuropathy, amyloid cardiomyopathy
Medical subject headings
Amyloid Neuropathies, Familial, Amyloidosis, Familial, Amyloidosis, Peripheral Nervous System Diseases

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • diflunisalDrug

    given twice daily for 24 months

  • placeboOther

    an inactive substance given twice daily for 24 months

Study groups in NCT00294671
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
DiflunisalActive comparatorDiflunisal 250 mg po bid
Receives: Drug: diflunisal
PlaceboPlacebo comparatorPlacebo 1 po bid
Receives: Other: placebo

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Neurologic Impairment Score + 7 (NIS+7)

    The primary endpoint, the difference in polyneuropathy progression between treatments, was measured by the Neuropathy Impairment Score plus 7 nerve tests (NIS+7) which ranges from 0 (no neurologic deficits) to 270 points (no detectable peripheral nerve function).

    Measured: Baseline, 1 and 2 years

Secondary outcomes (4)
  1. Kumamoto Neurologic Scale;

    Change from baseline of the Kumamoto Score (0-102 points, increasing with disease severity), a clinical neurologic scale of motor, sensory, and autonomic function combined with heart and kidney end organ measures developed to track disease progression in Familial Amyloid Polyneuropathy (ATTR-FAP)

    Measured: Baseline, 1 and 2 years

  2. Modified Body Mass Index (mBMI);

    The product of body mass index (BMI) and serum albumin level (g/L) [kg/M2xg/L].

    Measured: Baseline, 1 and 2 years

  3. Quality of Life Questionnaire: SF-36 Physical Component Score

    The 36 item short-form health survey (SF-36) was used to assess the difference between treatment groups for change of physical component scores over 2 years treatment. Range 0-100; lower scores reflect lower quality-of-life.

    Measured: Baseline, 1 and 2 years

  4. Quality of Life Questionnaire: SF-36 Mental Component Score

    The 36 item short-form health survey (SF-36) was used to assess the difference between treatment groups for change of mental component scores over 2 years treatment. Range 0-100; lower scores reflect lower quality-of-life.

    Measured: Baseline, 1 and 2 years

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted22 Feb 2006 (estimated)
  2. Study startFeb 2006
  3. Primary completionDec 2012
  4. Study completionDec 2012

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 2/3
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Double blind
Who is masked
Participant, Investigator
Enrolment
130 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT00294671
Sponsor's protocol ID
R01NS051306
Other IDs
FD R 002532, R01NS051306
Status last verified
Jan 2017
First submitted
21 Feb 2006
Last updated
17 Mar 2017
Data monitoring committee
Yes
Individual data sharing
No: A manuscript analyzing cardiac outcomes is being prepared. We will consider IPD after the manuscript is complete and accepted.

Publications

  • Berk JL, Suhr OB, Obici L, Sekijima Y, Zeldenrust SR, Yamashita T, Heneghan MA, Gorevic PD, Litchy WJ, Wiesman JF, Nordh E, Corato M, Lozza A, Cortese A, Robinson-Papp J, Colton T, Rybin DV, Bisbee AB, Ando Y, Ikeda S, Seldin DC, Merlini G, Skinner M, Kelly JW, Dyck PJ; Diflunisal Trial Consortium. Repurposing diflunisal for familial amyloid polyneuropathy: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2013 Dec 25;310(24):2658-67. doi: 10.1001/jama.2013.283815.

    PubMed 24368466

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 2/3 study testing diflunisal in people with Familial Amyloid Polyneuropathy and Familial Amyloidosis, run by Boston University at 8 sites in 5 countries.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 8 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 17 Mar 2017. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 8 sites in United States, Japan, Italy, Sweden, United Kingdom. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this combined phase mean?

Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.

Phase 3 studies compare the treatment with the current standard treatment or a placebo in a large group, to confirm how well it works and watch for side effects.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 17 Mar 2017). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Neurologic Impairment Score + 7 (NIS+7) (time frame: Baseline, 1 and 2 years). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT00294671, which also lists 1 linked publication.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 17 Mar 2017.

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