What this study is
PIONEER-ALS is a Phase 1/2, multicenter, open-label, ascending dose, uncontrolled, first-in-human study that will evaluate the safety, tolerability and effects on clinical and biomarker endpoints of intracisternal administration of Vtx-002 in participants with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
Two escalating dose (low dose and high dose) cohorts are planned. The duration of the study will be a maximum of 5 years and 5 weeks (265 weeks) for each participant. The screening period may last up to 5 weeks to complete screening procedures.
What's being tested
- VTx-002
Intervention · GENETIC
An investigational gene therapy targeting a specific protein.
- Preventative (Prophylactic) Medication - Corticosteroids: Methylprednisolone
Intervention · DRUG
To reduce the risk of reactions caused by the study treatment, steroid medicines will be given in advance.
Study details
- Official title
- Phase 1/2 Investigation of Novel Experimental Regimen in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Pioneer-ALS): An Open-Label, Uncontrolled, Multicenter Study to Assess the Safety and Tolerability of Two Doses of VTx-002
- Sponsor
- Vector Y Therapeutics
- Conditions
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
- Enrolling
- 36 people
- Starts
- 2025-12-19
- Est. completion
- 2027-10-15
- Design
- Open-label, non-randomized, sequential groups, Phase 1, Phase 2
- Record
- View on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
Who can join
Age 18 Years and overSex ALLHealthy volunteers Not acceptedYou may qualify if
- Capable of, and willing to, provide written informed consent and comply with study procedures, including visits to the study site and visit requirements
- Male or female ≥ 18 years of age
- Has a diagnosis of ALS according to the El Escorial criteria (Brooks, et al., 2000) (probable, laboratory results supported; clinically probable, clinically definite)
- Confirmed absence of ALS caused by FUS and SOD1 gene mutations confirmed by laboratory tests.
- A maximum of 18 months since first appearance of weakness (e.g., limb weakness, dysarthria, dysphagia, shortness of breath)
- Erect (seated) SVC % predicted ≥ 80% at Screening
- Treatment Research Initiative to Cure ALS (TRICALS) risk score between -2 and -6 at Screening
- Has a reliable caregiver/partner/legal representative willing and able to support the participant in participation in the study and to give informed consent on behalf of the participant in the case that disease progression prevents the participant of giving consent (local legal rules will apply).
- Treatment with riluzole and/or edaravone is allowed if treatment was started and has remained at a stable dose for at least 2 weeks (riluzole) or one treatment cycle (edaravone) before the Screening visit
- Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) and male participants with female partners who are WOCBP must agree to use highly effective contraception during and after the study. WOCBP cannot be pregnant or breastfeeding
- Women of nonchildbearing potential must be post-menopausal or surgically sterile (e.g. hysterectomy, bilateral tubal ligation, ovaries removed)
You can't join if
- Diagnosis of a significant CNS or peripheral nervous system disease other than ALS that may be a cause for the participant's ALS symptoms or may confound study objectives
- Spinal, cervical, or brain MRI/MRA indicating clinically significant abnormality
- Presence of tracheostomy and feeding tube at Screening
- Contraindications to corticosteroid use (e.g. due to osteoporosis, uncontrolled blood pressure, diabetes or cholesterol).
- Significant concomitant disease or condition within 6 months of Screening that could pose an unacceptable safety risk to the participant or interfere with the participant's ability to comply with study procedures, e.g. heart disease, uncontrolled diabetes, liver disease, autoimmune diseases needing strong immune-suppressing drugs, cancer, etc or a current psychiatric diagnosis.
- Clinically significant abnormalities in laboratory test results at Screening for example poor liver or kidney function, abnormal clotting or infections such as Hepatitis or HIV
- Use of blood thinners (e.g., warfarin, heparin, and novel oral anticoagulants) and being unable to safely stop them before certain study procedures.
- Contraindications to imaging methods MRI, MRA, CT due to claustrophobia and/or intolerance to contrast agents.
- Contraindications to general anaesthesia (GA) or deep sedation 10 Positive test for illegal drugs (except prescribed medications or permitted medicinal/recreational marijuana if used responsibly)
- Generally frail or if the Investigator deems participation in the study would not be in the best interest of the participant or is likely to prohibit further participation during the study
Sign in and we'll check these against your records.Full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Study locations (9)
9 openSt Joseph's Hospital and medical Center - Barrow Neurological Institute
Phoenix, Arizona, United States
- Dr S Ladha, Doctor of Medicine · Contact(602) 406-6262fulton.research@commonspirit.org
- Dr Shafeeq Ladha, Doctor of Medicine · Principal investigator
Not yet recruitingUniversity of California San Diego Medical Center
San Diego, California, United States
- Dr John Ravits, Doctor of Medicine · Contact(858) 246-1154jravits@health.ucsd.edu
- Dr John Ravits, Doctor of Medicine · Principal investigator
RecruitingMayo Clinic in Florida
Jacksonville, Florida, United States
- Dr Bjorn Oskarsson, Doctor of Medicine · Contact(904) 953-0407oskarsson.bjorn@mayo.edu
- Dr Bjorn Oskarsson, Doctor of Medicine · Principal investigator
RecruitingSean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS at Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
- Winifred Asigri Study Coordinator · Contact(617) 724-5659pioneeralshealey@mgb.org
- Dr Doreen Ho, Doctor of Medicine · Principal investigator
RecruitingThe Eleanor & Lou Gehrig ALS Center
New York, New York, United States
- The Eleanor & Lou Gehrig ALS Center · Contact(212) 305-6788alsresearch@cumc.columbia.edu
- Dr Neil Schneider, Doctor of Medicine · Principal investigator
Not yet recruitingUniversity of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
- Spriha Thapa Study Coordinator · Contact267-610-8822Spriha.Thapa@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
- Dr Colin Quinn, Doctor of Medicine · Principal investigator
Recruiting
3 sites outside the US
UZ Leuven
Leuven, Belgium
- Evi Parente Study Coordinator · Contact+ 32 1638668evi.parente@uzleuven.be
- Ann Dhondt Study Coordinator · Contact+ 32 16347577ann.dhondt@uzleuven.be
- Dr Philip Van Damme, Doctor of Medicine · Principal investigator
RecruitingUMC Utrecht
Utrecht, Netherlands
- Prof Leonard Van Den Berg, Doctor of Medicine · Contact+31 887555555l.h.vandenberg@umcutrecht.nl
- Prof Leonard Van Den Berg, Doctor of Medicine · Principal investigator
RecruitingRoyal Hallamshire Hospital
Sheffield, United Kingdom
- Dr Chris McDermott, Doctor of medicine · Contact+44 114 226 1049c.j.mcdermott@sheffield.ac.uk
Recruiting
Study team
Sponsor
Vector Y Therapeutics
Study ID VTx-002-01-001
CONTACT
Dr Olga Uspenskaya Chief medical Officer, VectorY Therapeutics, M.D; PhD
Frequently asked questions
The sponsor hasn't published answers to common questions for this trial.