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Migraine DisordersPhase 3NCT04151472

Idebenone for the Preventive Treatment of Migraine

A Phase 3 study testing 90mg Idebenone and 270mg Idebenone in people with Migraine Disorders and Headache Disorders, run by Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, School of Medicine at 1 site in China.

Recruiting

Looking for participants now. Contact the study team or a site below to ask about taking part.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

Idebenone improves energy metabolism similarly to Coenzyme Q10, which is effective in migraine prophylaxis. The investigators compare idebenone (90 mg/day, 270 mg/day) and placebo in 180 migraine patients in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial to study whether Idebenone is superior to… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 65 years
Conditions the study is for
Migraine Disorders, Headache Disorders
What is being tested?
90mg Idebenone and 270mg Idebenone
Type of treatment
Pill or oral medicine
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
180 participants
Where
1 siteChina
Study dates
8 Dec 2021to 31 Dec 2025
Phase
Phase 3
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

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 65 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Clinical diagnosis of episodic migraine.
  • Patients (18-65 years) were eligible if they met International Headache Society (IHS) criteria for episodic migraine with/ without aura with a migraine history 1 year
  • Two to eight attacks per month, 5 days/month of interval headaches.
  • No over consumption of acute anti-migraine medication.
  • No other prophylactic medication (washout 3 months).
  • No serious organic or psychiatric disease.
  • Only women with contraceptive protection.

Who cannot join

  • Clinical diagnosis of chronic migraine.
  • Subjects previously discontinued idebenone due to adverse events.
  • Subjects are taking idebenone or had taken idebenone within 14 days prior to enrollment.
  • Subjects with continuous headaches.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Kaiming Liu, MD & PHD contact

+8615068862055

2314411@zju.edu.cn

China1 site, 1 recruiting
  • Kaiming Liu

    Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 370001

    Kaiming Liu

    Recruiting

Other trials in China

About this study

Official title: A Randomized, Double-blinded, Placebo-controlled Trial of Idebenone in the Prevention of Episodic Migraine

Idebenone improves energy metabolism similarly to Coenzyme Q10, which is effective in migraine prophylaxis. The investigators compare idebenone (90 mg/day, 270 mg/day) and placebo in 180 migraine patients in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial to study whether Idebenone is superior to placebo in the prevention of episodic migraine with or without aura.

Read the detailed description

One-hundred-and-eighty subjects will be recruited for a placebo-controlled, double-blinded study of idebenone (90 mg/day, 270 mg/day) versus placebo. One-hundred-and-eighty subjects will be recruited based on past research and an expected 20% dropout rate. A dose of 90mg or 270 mg is based on large number of reports at study initiation in Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy that demonstrated the safety of 900mg/day. Subjects are 18 to 65 years old, inclusive, who meet the International Classification of Headache Disorder- III (ICHD-III) for episodic migraine with or without aura, no over consumption of acute anti-migraine medication, no other prophylactic medication (washout 3 months), no serious organic or psychiatric disease, who are recommended to start prophylactic therapy (two to eight attacks per month). Written informed consent is obtained. The process of patients through the trial phases follows the CONSORT flow chart.

Idebenone and placebo were provided by Qilu Pharmaceutical Company Limited, China. Placebo consisted of the same ingredients as verum-instead idebenone, they classify as fit for human consumption in the China and without any known effect on migraine.

The design of this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial followed the IHS Committee on Clinical Trials in Migraine guidelines, 8 current EU guidelines on Good Clinical Practice, and the Declaration of Helsinki. It was approved by Neurology Department, the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University. This study is supported by the following funding sources: the Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. LY19H090025, Grant No. LQ15H090003), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 81101157). The study is also supported by Qilu Pharmaceutical Company Limited, China (http://www.qilu-pharma.com); the use of idebenone in migraine, is patent pending in the China. Dr. Kaiming Liu do not receive honoraria from the sponsor of the study.

Exclusion criteria includes subjects who previously failed idebenone therapy for migraine prophylaxis, those who previously discontinued idebenone due to adverse events, those who are taking idebenone or had taken idebenone within 14 days prior to enrollment, and subjects with continuous headaches. Subjects will be equally randomized to be treated with 90 mg/day idebenone, 270 mg/day idebenone, or placebo for 3 months.

At the first visit, patients will receive placebo for a 1-month base-line. At the second visit, they will be randomized to be treated with 90 mg/day idebenone, 270 mg/day idebenone, or placebo for next 3 months if they have presented at least one migraine attack.

The primary objective is to assess whether at least 1 dose of Idebenone is superior to placebo in overall mean change from baseline of 4-week migraine headache days (MHD) during double-blind treatment. Key secondary outcome variables will be change of migraine attack frequency, migraine moderate/severe headache days, the proportion of subjects with at least 50%, at least 75%, and 100% reduction in migraine days, mean severity of migraine, acute treatment utilization, quality of life related to episodic migraine as measured by the The Role Function Physical subscale in The Migraine-Specific Quality of Life questionnaire (MSQ v2.1), migraine-related disability as measured by The Headache Impact Test (HIT-6), Patient Global Impression of Severity (PGI-S) scores, and Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) scores from baseline of 4-week to the entire double-blind treatment phase.

Responders for attack frequency (50% reduction) will be calculated and the number-needed-to-treat (NNT) determined. Patients will be interviewed about adverse events at each visit. Statistical analysis will be done on an intention-to-treat population applying the last visit carried forward method. Mann-Whitney U test will be used for differences between groups, 2 test for 22 contingency tables of responder rate, general linear mixed model for evolution over time. Significance level is p<0.05, after accounting for multiple comparisons. SPSS will be used.

Being tested
Placebo, 90mg Idebenone, 270mg Idebenone
Keywords
Migraine Prophylaxis, Mitochondrial Dysfunction, Idebenone, Individualized Treatment
Medical subject headings
Migraine Disorders, Headache Disorders, Mitochondrial Diseases

What participants receive

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

  • PlaceboDrug

    Placebo oral tablet, three times a day

  • 90mg IdebenoneDrug

    Also called Shenwei

    Idebenone 30 MG Oral Tablet, three times a day

  • 270mg IdebenoneDrug

    Also called Shenwei

    Idebenone 90 MG Oral Tablet, three times a day

Study groups in NCT04151472
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
90mg IdebenoneExperimentalPlacebo by mouth, three times a day for 1 months; Idebenone 30mg table by mouth, three times a day for next 3 months
Receives: Drug: Placebo; Drug: 90mg Idebenone
270mg IdebenoneExperimentalPlacebo by mouth, three times a day for 1 months; Idebenone 90mg table by mouth, three times a day for next 3 months
Receives: Drug: Placebo; Drug: 270mg Idebenone
PlaceboPlacebo comparatorPlacebo by mouth, three times a day for 4 months
Receives: Drug: Placebo

What is being measured

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

  1. The change of migraine attack frequency

    The change of migraine attack frequency in month 4 compared with baseline. Headache data (e.g., occurrence, duration, and pain severity; occurrence of photophobia, phonophobia, nausea, or vomiting; and any use of migraine medication) were captured daily through a daily headache-diary. Degree of pain and results of treatment are scored by visual analogue scale(VAS).

    Measured: month 0, month 1, month 2, month 3, month 4

Secondary outcomes (6)
  1. The change of days with headache

    The change of days with headache per month compared with baseline. Headache data (e.g., occurrence, duration, and pain severity; occurrence of photophobia, phonophobia, nausea, or vomiting; and any use of migraine medication) were captured daily through a daily headache-diary.

    Measured: month 0, month 1, month 2, month 3, month 4

  2. Mean severity of migraine

    Mean severity of migraine per month compared with baselineHeadache data (e.g., occurrence, duration, and pain severity; occurrence of photophobia, phonophobia, nausea, or vomiting; and any use of migraine medication) were captured daily through a daily headache-diary. Degree of pain is scored by VAS.

    Measured: month 0, month 1, month 2, month 3, month 4

  3. The change of days with nausea/vomiting

    The change of days with nausea/vomiting per month compared with baselineHeadache data (e.g., occurrence, duration, and pain severity; occurrence of photophobia, phonophobia, nausea, or vomiting; and any use of migraine medication) were captured daily through a daily headache-diary.

    Measured: month 0, month 1, month 2, month 3, month 4

  4. Mean duration of migraine

    Mean duration of migraine per month compared with baselineHeadache data (e.g., occurrence, duration, and pain severity; occurrence of photophobia, phonophobia, nausea, or vomiting; and any use of migraine medication) were captured daily through a daily headache-diary.

    Measured: month 0, month 1, month 2, month 3, month 4

  5. 50% Responder rate for attack frequency

    50% Responder rate for attack frequency compared with baselineHeadache data (e.g., occurrence, duration, and pain severity; occurrence of photophobia, phonophobia, nausea, or vomiting; and any use of migraine medication) were captured daily through a daily headache-diary.

    Measured: month 0, month 1, month 2, month 3, month 4

  6. Mean no. tablets per day

    Mean no. tablets per day compared with baselineHeadache data (e.g., occurrence, duration, and pain severity; occurrence of photophobia, phonophobia, nausea, or vomiting; and any use of migraine medication) were captured daily through a daily headache-diary.

    Measured: month 0, month 1, month 2, month 3, month 4

Timeline

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

  1. First posted5 Nov 2019
  2. Study start8 Dec 2021
  3. Primary completion31 Dec 2025 (estimated)
  4. Study completion31 Dec 2025 (estimated)

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 3
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Quadruple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
180 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04151472
Sponsor's protocol ID
2019-675
Status last verified
Nov 2024
First submitted
29 Oct 2019
Last updated
15 May 2025
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No: Some subjects do not hope that their IPD are used by other researchers.

Publications

  • Yorns WR Jr, Hardison HH. Mitochondrial dysfunction in migraine. Semin Pediatr Neurol. 2013 Sep;20(3):188-93. doi: 10.1016/j.spen.2013.09.002.

    PubMed 24331360
  • Markley HG. CoEnzyme Q10 and riboflavin: the mitochondrial connection. Headache. 2012 Oct;52 Suppl 2:81-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1526-4610.2012.02233.x.

    PubMed 23030537
  • Borkum JM. Migraine Triggers and Oxidative Stress: A Narrative Review and Synthesis. Headache. 2016 Jan;56(1):12-35. doi: 10.1111/head.12725. Epub 2015 Dec 7.

    PubMed 26639834
  • Koreshkina MI. [The use of noben (idebenone) in the complex treatment of episodic and chronic migraine]. Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova. 2010;110(6):98-101. No abstract available. Russian.

    PubMed 20726168
  • Dalla Volta G, Carli D, Zavarise P, Ngonga G, Vollaro S. P026. Pilot study on the use of coenzyme Q10 in a group of patients with episodic migraine without aura. J Headache Pain. 2015 Dec;16(Suppl 1):A186. doi: 10.1186/1129-2377-16-S1-A186. No abstract available.

    PubMed 28132202
  • Dahri M, Tarighat-Esfanjani A, Asghari-Jafarabadi M, Hashemilar M. Oral coenzyme Q10 supplementation in patients with migraine: Effects on clinical features and inflammatory markers. Nutr Neurosci. 2019 Sep;22(9):607-615. doi: 10.1080/1028415X.2017.1421039. Epub 2018 Jan 3.

    PubMed 29298622
  • Gaul C, Diener HC, Danesch U; Migravent(R) Study Group. Improvement of migraine symptoms with a proprietary supplement containing riboflavin, magnesium and Q10: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, multicenter trial. J Headache Pain. 2015;16:516. doi: 10.1186/s10194-015-0516-6. Epub 2015 Apr 3.

    PubMed 25916335
  • Slater SK, Nelson TD, Kabbouche MA, LeCates SL, Horn P, Segers A, Manning P, Powers SW, Hershey AD. A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover, add-on study of CoEnzyme Q10 in the prevention of pediatric and adolescent migraine. Cephalalgia. 2011 Jun;31(8):897-905. doi: 10.1177/0333102411406755. Epub 2011 May 17.

    PubMed 21586650
  • Brenner SR. Mitochondrial DNA haplogroups influence the therapeutic response to riboflavin in migraineurs. Neurology. 2010 Jan 12;74(2):182-3; author reply 183. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0b013e3181c77678. No abstract available.

    PubMed 20065258
  • Rozen TD, Oshinsky ML, Gebeline CA, Bradley KC, Young WB, Shechter AL, Silberstein SD. Open label trial of coenzyme Q10 as a migraine preventive. Cephalalgia. 2002 Mar;22(2):137-41. doi: 10.1046/j.1468-2982.2002.00335.x.

    PubMed 11972582
  • Klopstock T, Yu-Wai-Man P, Dimitriadis K, Rouleau J, Heck S, Bailie M, Atawan A, Chattopadhyay S, Schubert M, Garip A, Kernt M, Petraki D, Rummey C, Leinonen M, Metz G, Griffiths PG, Meier T, Chinnery PF. A randomized placebo-controlled trial of idebenone in Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy. Brain. 2011 Sep;134(Pt 9):2677-86. doi: 10.1093/brain/awr170. Epub 2011 Jul 25.

    PubMed 21788663

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 3 study testing 90mg Idebenone and 270mg Idebenone in people with Migraine Disorders and Headache Disorders, run by Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, School of Medicine at 1 site in China.

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 7 inclusion and 4 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 15 May 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in China. 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 phase mean?

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?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

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

Contact Kaiming Liu, MD & PHD (+8615068862055, 2314411@zju.edu.cn), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

The change of migraine attack frequency (time frame: month 0, month 1, month 2, month 3, month 4). 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 NCT04151472, which also lists 11 linked publications.

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 15 May 2025.

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