Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB) is an alphasynucleinopathy and the second most common form of dementia in the elderly. DLB shares striking neuropathological and clinical similarities with both Parkinson's disease (PD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Nilotinib (Tasigna®, AMN107, Novartis, Switzerland) is approved by the FDA and is well tolerated for CML treatment at oral doses of 600-800mg daily. The Investigators propose to perform a phase II randomized, double blinded, placebo controlled study to evaluate the impact of Nilotinib in patients with DLB.
A phase II randomized, double blinded, placebo controlled study will be performed to evaluate the impact of Nilotinib (Tasigna®, AMN107, Novartis, Switzerland) on safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and clinical outcomes in patients with Dementia with Lewy Bodies. Sixty ( 60) participants will be recruited and randomly assigned 1:1 to placebo (arm 1) or 200 mg Nilotinib (arm 2).This study will be conducted in DLB patients with 2.5≥Hoehn \& Yahr≤3 and UPDRS I-III ≤50 and 15≥UPDRS III (motor) ≥40 (Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Score)and MoCA≥18(Montreal Cognitive Assessment). Eligible participants must be stable on MAO-B inhibitors (Rasageline or Selegeline) for 4 weeks and must not be on ≥800mg Levodopa daily. Participants must be stable on acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and other medications for at least 6 weeks. Participants will be treated for 6 months and monitored every month ( 4 weeks) in a total of 9 visits that include screening , baseline, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 months follow up and 7 month washout. Blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) will be collected at baseline and at 6 months to determine Nilotinib effects on CSF biomarkers.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
43
Thirty (30) patients in arm 1 will receive the matching placebo ("sugar pill") one (1) capsule orally (without food) once daily for 6 months (180 days).
Thirty (30) patients in arm 2 will receive the 200 mg of Nilotinib one (1) capsule orally (without food) once daily for 6 months (180 days).
MedStar Georgetown University Hospital
Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States
Safety and Tolerability: Occurrence of Adverse Events (AEs)
The Investigators will determine safety and tolerability using the occurrence of adverse events (AEs) of interest as per Nilotinib Investigator Brochure (IB).
Time frame: 6 Months
DLB Related CSF Biomarkers
Pharmacodynamics: Determine the effects of Nilotinib on primary biomarkers
Time frame: 6 Months
The Investigators Will Quantify Amyloid Burden Via Florbetaben PET Scan
Quantification of Standardized Uptake Value Ratio (SUVR) of brain amyloid burden via Florbetaben (Neuraceq, is a diagnostic radiotracera) PET at baseline and 6 months (end of treatment (EOT)). Standardized Uptake Value Ratio (SUVR) is a unitless ratio that measures tracer uptake in a target brain region compared to a reference region. A lower SUVR is generally better in amyloid PET scans, as it indicates a lower density of amyloid plaques in the brain while a higher SUVR indicates a higher burden of amyloid plaque accumulation in the brain.
Time frame: Baseline, 6 Months, and change between baseline and 6 months
DLB Related CSF Biomarkers
Pharmacodynamics: Determine the effects of Nilotinib on CSF levels of Homavanillic Acid (HVA) between baseline and 6 months.
Time frame: Changes from Baseline to 6 months
DLB Related CSF Biomarkers
Pharmacodynamics: Determine the effects of Nilotinib on the ratio change of phospho-Tau(181)/Abeta42 (pTau(181)/Ab42) in DLB patients
Time frame: 6 months
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.