Sturge - Weber Syndrome (SWS)Phase 2Epi-PreNCT07778810
Epidiolex Trial for Presymptomatic Treatment of Sturge-Weber Syndrome
A Phase 2 study testing Epidiolex 100 mg/mL Oral Solution in people with Sturge - Weber Syndrome (SWS), run by Johns Hopkins University at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
Patients with Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS) are frequently affected by seizures, and seizures are associated with poorer neurological outcomes. To date there is no established means of predicting or preventing seizure onset. Cannabidiol (Epidiolex) was well tolerated in an open label study in this population. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 1 month to 18 months
- Conditions the study is for
- Sturge - Weber Syndrome (SWS)
- What is being tested?
- Epidiolex 100 mg/mL Oral Solution
- Type of treatment
- Pill or oral medicine
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 10 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 17 Sep 2026to Jul 2028
- Phase
- Phase 2
- 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 1 month to 18 months
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child
Who may be able to join
- Clinical diagnosis of Sturge-Weber Syndrome.
- Age 1 to 18 months of age, inclusive.
- Neuroimaging demonstrating involvement of 3 or more lobes, or bilateral involvement.
- No history of seizures.
- Patient's parent or legal guardian provides written informed consent prior to treatment initiation.
Who cannot join
- Any severe and/or uncontrolled medical conditions at randomization including, but not limited to the following:
- Liver disease such as cirrhosis, decompensated liver disease, and chronic hepatitis (i.e. quantifiable HBVDNA and/or positive HbsAg, quantifiable HCV-RNA). Specifically the patient should not have either AST or ALT more than 1.5 times the upper limit of normal. The Child- Pugh Score must be A (mild) which is a score of 5-6 (minimum/normal score=5). Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) Calculator - Clinical Calculators - Hepatitis C Online (uw.edu)
- Uncontrolled diabetes as defined by fasting serum glucose > 1.5 ULN
- Active (acute or chronic) or uncontrolled severe infections
- Active, bleeding diathesis
- Any other neurological diagnosis that increases the risk of seizure or neurodevelopmental disability.
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- Patients who have had a major surgery or significant traumatic injury within 4 weeks of study entry, patients who have not recovered from the side effects of any major surgery (defined as requiring general anesthesia), or patients that may require major surgery during the course of the study.
- Prior treatment with any investigational drug or use of any other cannabis product within the preceding 4 weeks prior to study entry.
- Use of aspirin.
- Allergic reaction/hypersensitivity to Epidiolex or other forms of cannabidiol.
- Concern for non-compliance to medical regimens, or concern that the patient will not be able to complete the entire study, whether due to reliability or logistical barriers. This includes those in foster care, or those unable to keep follow-up appointments, maintain close contact with Principal Investigator, or complete all necessary studies to maintain safety.
- Use of any seizure medication (whether for seizures or any other reason) (e.g. valproate, clobazam).
- Use of chronic medications other than a multi-vitamin and/or vitamin D supplements.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Kennedy Krieger Institute
Baltimore, Maryland, 21205
Anne Comi, MD, 443-923-9172, comi@kennedykrieger.org
Brenna Keam, BS, 443-923-9127, keam@kennedykrieger.org
About this study
Official title: Epidiolex Pilot Trial for Presymptomatic Treatment of Sturge-Weber Syndrome
Patients with Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS) are frequently affected by seizures, and seizures are associated with poorer neurological outcomes. To date there is no established means of predicting or preventing seizure onset. Cannabidiol (Epidiolex) was well tolerated in an open label study in this population. This trial will evaluate whether Epidiolex in presymptomatic Sturge-Weber patients may delay the onset of seizures and improve neurological outcome.
Read the detailed description
This is an open-label, prospective dose escalation study to determine the safety and tolerability of presymptomatic treatment of SWS patients with Epidiolex. The investigators hypothesize that Epidiolex will be well tolerated and delay seizure onset in SWS patients. The total number of subjects to be consented for this safety study=10 babies with SWS; the initial funded phase will be with 6 subjects. Interim analysis will be completed after 6 subjects; the remaining 4 will be enrolled as warranted for 6 months on Epidiolex. Subjects will be dosed as recommended clinically (starting at 2.5 mg/kg/day divided bid, with weekly increases over the next 4 weeks to a maximum dose of 20 mg/kg/day) as tolerated. Neurologic visits during the trial, the bloodwork, EEGs, and motor assessments will be done as research procedures. Once the first dose of the study drug is administered, a blood draw will be done at 4-hour and 12-hour post study drug administration. A mini-PK will be similarly performed once the maximum maintenance dose is achieved.
- Conditions
- Sturge - Weber Syndrome (SWS)
- Being tested
- Epidiolex 100 mg/mL Oral Solution
- Keywords
- Presymptomatic, Open-label, Cannabidiol
- Medical subject headings
- Brain Stem Infarctions
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Epidiolex 100 mg/mL Oral SolutionDrug
Also called Cannabidiol, CBD
Epidiolex is a prescription form of cannabidiol used to treat seizures. Epidiolex will be started at 2.5 mg/kg/day divided twice daily. The dose will increase weekly as tolerated over the next 5 weeks to a target dose of 20 mg/kg/day.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Presymptomatic Epidiolex Treatment | Experimental | Epidiolex will be started at 2.5 mg/kg/day divided twice daily. The dose will increase weekly as tolerated over the next 5 weeks to a target dose of 20 mg/kg/day. Receives: Drug: Epidiolex 100 mg/mL Oral Solution |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Safe completion as assessed by the number of participants with no significant side effects
Measured: 6 months
Safe completion as assessed by the number of participants with no seizure onset
Measured: 6 months
Secondary outcomes (5)
Sturge-Weber Syndrome Neuroscore (SWS-NRS)
Neuroscore is a published SWS ordinal score that incorporates domains of visual field cut (0-2), hemiparesis (0-4), seizure frequency (0-4), and cognitive function (0-5). Total score is sum of 4 ratings with a total score from 0-15. Higher score worse impairment. This will be obtained at each study visit.
Measured: baseline, week 5, week 12, and week 24
Milestone checklist
A publicly available milestone checklist from Pathways.org will be completed at every study visit. The checklist is personalized based on age. Does not use a numerical or point based scoring system. It uses a pass/fail or completed/not-completed checklist tracking format related to Motor, Sensory, Communication, and Feeding abilities.
Measured: baseline, week 5, week 12, and week 24
Modified Early Motor Questionnaire (EMQ)
The Modified EMQ will be performed at baseline and at week 24. The EMQ evaluates abilities in three domains: Gross Motor skills, Fine Motor Skills, and Perception-Action Integration. It uses a 5-point scale including -2 = Sure that child does NOT show behavior, -1 = Child probably does NOT show behavior yet, 0 = Unsure whether child could do this or not, 1 = Child probably shows this behavior, and 2 = Sure that child shows this behavior and remember a particular instance. Minimum total score is -200. Maximum total score is 200. Higher score means higher certainty in the child's behaviors.
Measured: Baseline, week 24
Modified Erhardt Developmental Prehension Assessment (EDPA)
The Modified EDPA will be performed at baseline and at week 24. The EDPA will evaluate hand skills and arm-hand movements at baseline and in response to the study drug. Both right and left hands are tested. Individual test components are scored by a well-established pattern (+), pattern not yet achieved (-), and temporary pattern to be replaced by a more mature pattern (++). Maximum score would be a well-established pattern (+) for all EDPA items. Higher score better, means a greater number of well-established hand skills and arm-hand movements.
Measured: Baseline, week 24
Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory Computer Adaptive Test (PEDI-CAT)
The PEDI-CAT will be performed at baseline and at week 24. The PEDI-CAT will evaluate abilities in four functional domains: Daily Activities, Mobility, Social/Cognitive, and Responsibility. The PEDI-CAT uses a 4-point scale including 1 = Unable, 2 = Hard, 3 = A Little Hard, and 4 = Easy. Minimum scaled score is 20. Maximum scaled score is 80. Higher total score means better functional ability.
Measured: Baseline, week 24
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted21 Aug 2026
- Study start17 Sep 2026
- Primary completionJul 2028 (estimated)
- Study completionJul 2028 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Sturge - Weber Syndrome (SWS)Studies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Johns Hopkins UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
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
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Model description
- Open-label
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 10 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Johns Hopkins University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Inc.
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Ryan Felling, MD, PhD, Principal investigator, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07778810
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- IRB00326943
- Acronym
- Epi-Pre
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 18 Aug 2026
- Last updated
- 2 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- Yes
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: Demographics, baseline assessments, completion assessments, adverse events.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 2 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Epidiolex Pilot Trial for Presymptomatic Treatment of Sturge-Weber Syndrome
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07778810
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- Epi-Pre / IRB00326943
- Conditions
- Sturge - Weber Syndrome (SWS)
- Keywords
- Presymptomatic, Open-label, Cannabidiol
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 10 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Johns Hopkins UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Inc.
- Study start
- 17 Sep 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Jul 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Jul 2028 (estimated)
- First posted
- 21 Aug 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Patients with Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS) are frequently affected by seizures, and seizures are associated with poorer neurological outcomes. To date there is no established means of predicting or preventing seizure onset. Cannabidiol (Epidiolex) was well tolerated in an open label study in this population. This trial will evaluate whether Epidiolex in presymptomatic Sturge-Weber patients may delay the onset of seizures and improve neurological outcome.
Detailed description
This is an open-label, prospective dose escalation study to determine the safety and tolerability of presymptomatic treatment of SWS patients with Epidiolex. The investigators hypothesize that Epidiolex will be well tolerated and delay seizure onset in SWS patients. The total number of subjects to be consented for this safety study=10 babies with SWS; the initial funded phase will be with 6 subjects. Interim analysis will be completed after 6 subjects; the remaining 4 will be enrolled as warranted for 6 months on Epidiolex. Subjects will be dosed as recommended clinically (starting at 2.5 mg/kg/day divided bid, with weekly increases over the next 4 weeks to a maximum dose of 20 mg/kg/day) as tolerated. Neurologic visits during the trial, the bloodwork, EEGs, and motor assessments will be done as research procedures. Once the first dose of the study drug is administered, a blood draw will be done at 4-hour and 12-hour post study drug administration. A mini-PK will be similarly performed once the maximum maintenance dose is achieved.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
- Model description
- Open-label
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Presymptomatic Epidiolex Treatment | Experimental | Drug: Epidiolex 100 mg/mL Oral SolutionEpidiolex will be started at 2.5 mg/kg/day divided twice daily. The dose will increase weekly as tolerated over the next 5 weeks to a target dose of 20 mg/kg/day. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 1 month to 18 months
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Clinical diagnosis of Sturge-Weber Syndrome.
- Age 1 to 18 months of age, inclusive.
- Neuroimaging demonstrating involvement of 3 or more lobes, or bilateral involvement.
- No history of seizures.
- Patient's parent or legal guardian provides written informed consent prior to treatment initiation.
Key exclusion criteria (13 listed)
- Any severe and/or uncontrolled medical conditions at randomization including, but not limited to the following:
- Liver disease such as cirrhosis, decompensated liver disease, and chronic hepatitis (i.e. quantifiable HBVDNA and/or positive HbsAg, quantifiable HCV-RNA). Specifically the patient should not have either AST or ALT more than 1.5 times the upper limit of normal. The Child- Pugh Score must be A (mild) which is a score of 5-6 (minimum/normal score=5). Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) Calculator - Clinical Calculators - Hepatitis C Online (uw.edu)
- Uncontrolled diabetes as defined by fasting serum glucose > 1.5 ULN
- Active (acute or chronic) or uncontrolled severe infections
- Active, bleeding diathesis
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Epidiolex 100 mg/mL Oral SolutionAlso: Cannabidiol, CBDEpidiolex is a prescription form of cannabidiol used to treat seizures. Epidiolex will be started at 2.5 mg/kg/day divided twice daily. The dose will increase weekly as tolerated over the next 5 weeks to a target dose of 20 mg/kg/day. | Drug | Presymptomatic Epidiolex Treatment |
Primary outcome
Safe completion as assessed by the number of participants with no significant side effects
Time frame: 6 months
Safe completion as assessed by the number of participants with no seizure onset
Time frame: 6 months
5 secondary outcomes
Sturge-Weber Syndrome Neuroscore (SWS-NRS)
Time frame: baseline, week 5, week 12, and week 24
Milestone checklist
Time frame: baseline, week 5, week 12, and week 24
Modified Early Motor Questionnaire (EMQ)
Time frame: Baseline, week 24
Modified Erhardt Developmental Prehension Assessment (EDPA)
Time frame: Baseline, week 24
Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory Computer Adaptive Test (PEDI-CAT)
Time frame: Baseline, week 24
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 2 Oct 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. Demographics, baseline assessments, completion assessments, adverse events.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Ryan Felling, MD, PhD principal investigator
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 2 study testing Epidiolex 100 mg/mL Oral Solution in people with Sturge - Weber Syndrome (SWS), run by Johns Hopkins University at 1 site in United States.
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 5 inclusion and 13 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 2 Oct 2026. 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 United States. 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. 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 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.
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 Anne Comi, MD (443-923-9172, comi@kennedykrieger.org), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Safe completion as assessed by the number of participants with no significant side effects (time frame: 6 months). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
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 2 Oct 2026.