The study objective is to determine the safety and efficacy of long term ceftriaxone treatment in subjects with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a uniformly progressive, untreatable, and fatal neurodegenerative disorder. In an attempt to widen the search for potential therapeutic agents, a National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) led cooperative group performed an in-vitro screening program of 1040 FDA approved drugs in 29 assays relevant to various neurodegenerative disorders. Several cephalosporins, including ceftriaxone showed hits in ALS relevant assays. Efficacy was noted in models screening for compounds that increased expression of the astrocytic glutamate transporter, EAAT2, and in models of superoxide dismutase mediated toxicity. Ceftriaxone, a third generation cephalosporin with good CNS penetration and a long half-life, also has antioxidant properties and can rescue motor neurons in culture from chronic glutamate toxicity. Because neither the safety of long term ceftriaxone administration nor the extent of its penetration to the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are fully characterized, we propose a novel study design to expedite drug development while ensuring safety. The placebo-controlled clinical trial will enroll 600 research participants with ALS using a three-step sequential drug development design. We will determine optimal dosage, safety and efficacy of ceftriaxone in ALS. Our goals are to determine the steady state levels and population kinetics of ceftriaxone in the CSF (Aim 1, STAGE 1), define the safety and tolerability of ceftriaxone after a minimum of 16 weeks of daily treatment (Aim 2, STAGE 2), and to ascertain whether chronic treatment with ceftriaxone prolongs survival in ALS (Aim 3, STAGE 3). In STAGE 1, 60 subjects at eight centers will be enrolled in a pharmacokinetic study. Subjects will receive placebo, 2 or 4 grams ceftriaxone daily. After 7 days they will be admitted to the hospital for a plasma and CSF pharmacokinetic study. All 60 subjects will continue treatment and enter STAGE 2 to determine safety and tolerability after 16 weeks of daily treatment. STAGE 1 results will be used to modify the STAGE 2 design. Based on data from both STAGES 1 and 2, an assessment will be made as to whether a dose producing sufficient CSF levels to generate a biological effect can be tolerated by ALS patients. If the decision is affirmative, the study will be expanded to 600 randomized research participants at 40 centers in US and Canada. Subjects in the STAGE 1 and 2 studies will roll-over into the larger phase. Patients will remain in study until 52 weeks after the last patient is enrolled. The primary outcome measure for the STAGE III study will be time to death, tracheostomy or permanent assisted ventilation. Secondary outcome measures will include ALSFRS-R, vital capacity, strength, and the long-term safety and tolerability of ceftriaxone in this population.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project--Cooperative Agreements (U01)
Project #
3U01NS049640-03S2
Application #
7394571
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZNS1-SRB-K (11))
Program Officer
Moy, Claudia S
Project Start
2004-09-30
Project End
2009-11-30
Budget Start
2006-12-01
Budget End
2007-11-30
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2007
Total Cost
$24,900
Indirect Cost
Name
Massachusetts General Hospital
Department
Type
DUNS #
073130411
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02199
Oskarsson, Björn; Rocke, David M; Dengel, Karsten et al. (2016) Myasthenia gravis exacerbation after discontinuing mycophenolate: A single-center cohort study. Neurology 86:1159-63
Raheja, Divisha; Stephens, Helen E; Lehman, Erik et al. (2016) Patient-reported problematic symptoms in an ALS treatment trial. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 17:198-205
Ratti, Elena; Berry, James D; Greenblatt, David J et al. (2015) Preclinical Rodent Toxicity Studies for Long Term Use of Ceftriaxone. Toxicol Rep 2:1396-1403
Ramchandani, Ritesh; Finkelstein, Dianne M; Schoenfeld, David A (2015) A model-informed rank test for right-censored data with intermediate states. Stat Med 34:1454-66
Paganoni, Sabrina; Hyman, Theodore; Shui, Amy et al. (2015) Pre-morbid type 2 diabetes mellitus is not a prognostic factor in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Muscle Nerve 52:339-43
Zhao, Yanli; Cudkowicz, Merit E; Shefner, Jeremy M et al. (2014) Systemic pharmacokinetics and cerebrospinal fluid uptake of intravenous ceftriaxone in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. J Clin Pharmacol 54:1180-7
Cudkowicz, Merit E; Titus, Sarah; Kearney, Marianne et al. (2014) Safety and efficacy of ceftriaxone for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a multi-stage, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Lancet Neurol 13:1083-1091
Atassi, Nazem; Yerramilli-Rao, Padmaja; Szymonifka, Jackie et al. (2013) Analysis of start-up, retention, and adherence in ALS clinical trials. Neurology 81:1350-5
Berry, James D; Shefner, Jeremy M; Conwit, Robin et al. (2013) Design and initial results of a multi-phase randomized trial of ceftriaxone in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. PLoS One 8:e61177
Berry, James D; Cudkowicz, Merit E (2011) New considerations in the design of clinical trials for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Clin Investig (Lond) 1:1375-1389

Showing the most recent 10 out of 13 publications