Faculty Collaboration Database

A Phase 2, Double-Blind, Randomized, Dose-Ranging Trial Of Reldesemtiv In Patients With ALS. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2021 May;22(3-4):287-299

Date

09/25/2020

Pubmed ID

32969758

Pubmed Central ID

PMC8117790

DOI

10.1080/21678421.2020.1822410

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85091435875 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   40 Citations

Abstract

To evaluate safety, dose response, and preliminary efficacy of reldesemtiv over 12 weeks in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Methods: Patients (≤2 years since diagnosis) with slow upright vital capacity (SVC) of ≥60% were randomized 1:1:1:1 to reldesemtiv 150, 300, or 450 mg twice daily (bid) or placebo; active treatment was 12 weeks with 4-week follow-up. Primary endpoint was change in percent predicted SVC at 12 weeks; secondary measures included ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R) and muscle strength mega-score. Results: Patients (N = 458) were enrolled; 85% completed 12-week treatment. The primary analysis failed to reach statistical significance (p = 0.11); secondary endpoints showed no statistically significant effects (ALSFRS-R, p = 0.09; muscle strength mega-score, p = 0.31). Post hoc analyses pooling all active reldesemtiv-treated patients compared against placebo showed trends toward benefit in all endpoints (progression rate for SVC, ALSFRS-R, and muscle strength mega-score (nominal p values of 0.10, 0.01 and 0.20 respectively)). Reldesemtiv was well tolerated, with nausea and fatigue being the most common side effects. A dose-dependent decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate was noted, and transaminase elevations were seen in approximately 5% of patients. Both hepatic and renal abnormalities trended toward resolution after study drug discontinuation. Conclusions: Although the primary efficacy analysis did not demonstrate statistical significance, there were trends favoring reldesemtiv for all three endpoints, with effect sizes generally regarded as clinically important. Tolerability was good; modest hepatic and renal abnormalities were reversible. The impact of reldesemtiv on patients with ALS should be assessed in a pivotal Phase 3 trial. (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03160898).

Author List

Shefner JM, Andrews JA, Genge A, Jackson C, Lechtzin N, Miller TM, Cockroft BM, Meng L, Wei J, Wolff AA, Malik FI, Bodkin C, Brooks BR, Caress J, Dionne A, Fee D, Goutman SA, Goyal NA, Hardiman O, Hayat G, Heiman-Patterson T, Heitzman D, Henderson RD, Johnston W, Karam C, Kiernan MC, Kolb SJ, Korngut L, Ladha S, Matte G, Mora JS, Needham M, Oskarsson B, Pattee GL, Pioro EP, Pulley M, Quan D, Rezania K, Schellenberg KL, Schultz D, Shoesmith C, Simmons Z, Statland J, Sultan S, Swenson A, Berg LHVD, Vu T, Vucic S, Weiss M, Whyte-Rayson A, Wymer J, Zinman L, Rudnicki SA

Author

Dominic B. Fee MD Vice Chair, Professor in the Neurology department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Double-Blind Method
Humans
Muscle Strength