A multi-center, placebo controlled, double-blind trial comparing the efficacy and safety of 18 months of treatment with deferiprone versus placebo in patients with PKAN. This investigator-initiated trial was funded by the European Commission's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013, HEALTH-F2-2011, grant agreement No. 277984) to the TIRCON consortium (Treat Iron-Related Childhood-Onset Neurodegeneration) and by the FDA Office of Orphan Products Development (OOPD) (Dr. Elliott Vichinsky).
This is a multi-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, 18-month study in patients with PKAN aged 4 years and older. Participants are randomized in a 2:1 ratio to receive either deferiprone oral solution or placebo, twice a day for 18 months. Efficacy assessments, an MRI scan to measure iron levels in the globus pallidus, pharmacokinetic evaluations, and safety assessments are conducted at specified time points. Following completion of the trial, eligible patients are invited to enroll in an 18-month extension study, TIRCON2012V1-EXT, in which all participants receive deferiprone.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
89
Deferiprone 80 mg/mL oral solution will be administered twice daily (b.i.d.) for 18 months. An initial dose of 5 mg/kg b.i.d. will be administered for 6 weeks. The dose will then be escalated to 10 mg/kg b.i.d. and finally to 15 mg/kg b.i.d.
A deferiprone matching placebo oral solution will be given twice daily for 18 months.
Children's Hospital & Research Center at Oakland
Oakland, California, United States
Klinikum der Universität München
Munich, Germany
Foundation Neurological Institute C. Besta
Milan, Italy
Newcastle University Institute of Human Genetics
Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
Change in Score on Barry-Albright Dystonia Scale
The Barry-Albright Dystonia (BAD) scale rates severity of dystonia (sustained muscle contractions causing twisting and repetitive movements or abnormal postures) in 8 body regions. The individual scores are summed to provide a total score ranging from 0 to 32, with higher scores indicating greater severity. The co-primary endpoint in this study was the change from baseline to Month 18 in BAD total score.
Time frame: Baseline to 18 Months
Score on Patient Global Impression of Improvement at End of Study
The Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I) is a global index that assesses the response of a condition to a therapy by asking patients to rate their current state relative to their state at baseline. It consists of a 7-point rating scale, where 1=very much improved, 2= much improved, 3 = minimally improved, 4 = no change, 5 = minimally worse, 6 = much worse, and 7 = very much worse.
Time frame: Month 18
Change in Score on Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale
The Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) is the major rating scale used to assess severity of symptoms of Parkinson's disease, some of which are similar to those of PKAN. The UPDRS subscales used in this study were Part I: Mentation, Behavior and Mood, scored from 0 (best) to 16 (worst); Part II: Activities of Daily Living, scored from 0 (best) to 52 (worst); Part III: Motor Examination, scored from 0 (best) to 108 (worst); and Part VI: Schwab and England Activities of Daily Living Scale, scored from 0% (worst) to 100% (best).
Time frame: Baseline to 18 Months
Change in Score on Functional Independence Measure
The Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scale is used to assess physical and cognitive disability in three areas of daily living: self-care, mobility, and cognition. Within each area, items are scored according to the level of assistance required to perform that activity of daily living. A score of 1-2 indicates that the patient is completely dependent on a helper to perform the task, a score of 3-5 indicates that the patient is moderately dependent, and a score of 6-7 indicates that no help is required. The individual scores are summed to provide a global score from 18 (worst) to 126 (best).
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.
Time frame: Baseline to 18 Months
Change in Score on WeeFIM
The WeeFIM is the pediatric version of the Functional Independence Measure scale, and is used to assess physical and cognitive disability in three areas of daily living: self-care, mobility, and cognition. Within each area, items are scored according to the level of assistance required to perform that activity of daily living. A score of 1-2 indicates that the patient is completely dependent on a helper to perform the task, a score of 3-5 indicates that the patient is moderately dependent, and a score of 6-7 indicates that no help is required. The individual scores are summed to provide a global score from 18 (worst) to 126 (best).
Time frame: Baseline to 18 Months
Change in Score on Pediatric Quality of Life
The Pediatric Quality of Life (PedsQL) questionnaire is used to measure functional health and well-being from the patient's point of view. Separate versions of the questionnaire are available for children, young adults aged 18-25 years, and adults older than 25 years. Patients are asked to indicate how they have felt over the past month, and the scores of the 23 questions are used to generate an overall score that ranges from 0 (worst) to 100 (best).
Time frame: Baseline to 18 Months
Change in Score on Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index
The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) is a self-rated questionnaire that assesses sleep quality and disturbances over a 1-month time interval. A total of 19 individual items are used to generate 7 "component" scores: subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, habitual sleep efficiency, sleep disturbances, use of sleeping medication, and daytime dysfunction, and a score is generated that ranges from 0 (best) to 21 (worst).
Time frame: Baseline to 18 Months
Change in Level of Brain Iron
Neurodegeneration in patients with PKAN is associated with localized brain iron accumulation, with the highest amount of accumulation seen in the globus pallidus, one of the main areas for motor control. MRI R2\* scans of this region were performed at baseline and Month 18 in a subset of patients who did not have a deep brain stimulation (DBS) device implanted, and for whom the use of anesthesia, if required, was deemed acceptable by the investigator.
Time frame: Baseline to 18 Months