Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM), wear and tear arthritis of the spine, specifically the neck, resulting in injury to the spinal cord, is the most common spinal cord disorder of adulthood. In DCM, arthritis of the spine causes compression of the spinal cord.
The symptoms of DCM are often mistaken for the natural consequences of aging, including numb and clumsy hands, loss of coordination, imbalance, and bladder and bowel problems. The weakness can progress to severe paralysis. Every year approximately 4 individuals in 100,000 undergo surgery for DCM, however, many more individuals are thought to suffer from DCM.
The main treatment for DCM is surgery. The aim of surgery is to create space and remove the compression of the spinal cord. This is known to prevent further injury. Unfortunately, the post-operative improvements are often incomplete and many patients remain severely disabled. Improving outcomes after surgery represents an important unmet clinical need.
Clinical and preclinical findings indicate that the drug Ibudilast can stimulate repair by stem cells and nerve cells in the spinal cord. Ibudilast is well-tolerated and used to treat asthma and post-stroke dizziness in Japan and is currently being investigated for use in treating other neurological diseases.
This study will investigate whether daily administration of Ibudilast by mouth for a maximum of 34 weeks can improve hand function, strength, balance, and urinary problems, and reduce pain.
Who can participate?
Individuals between 18-80 years old, diagnosed with DCM and scheduled for an operation for the first time will be invited to participate in the trial.
What does the study involve?
The study will entail patient questionnaires and clinical assessments before surgery, shortly after surgery and 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. Moreover, patients will undergo MRI scans pre-operatively and at 6-months post-operatively to determine whether the treatment was successful.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Where is the study run from?
The study will initially be conducted at 6 sites in the UK, with more sites added as necessary.
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
From September 2020 to September 2025
Who is funding the study?
The National Institute for Health Research (UK).
Who is the main contact?
Dr Daniel Alvarez-Berdugo
daniel.alvarezberdugo@addenbrookes.nhs.uk
Trial website
Contact information
Type
Public
Primary contact
Dr Daniel Alvarez-Berdugo
ORCID ID
Contact details
Addenbrooke's Hospital
Coton House Level 6
Flat 63
Box 401
Hills Road
Cambridge
CB2 0QQ
United Kingdom
+44 (0)1223254684
daniel.alvarezberdugo@addenbrookes.nhs.uk
Type
Scientific
Additional contact
Dr Mark Kotter
ORCID ID
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5145-7199
Contact details
Neurosurgery Unit & Stem Cells
Department of Clinical Neurosciences
Box 167
Cambridge Biomedical Campus
Cambridge
CB2 0QQ
United Kingdom
+44 7887 790773
mrk25@cam.ac.uk
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
2017-004856-41
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Nil known
Protocol/serial number
CPMS 44808, IRAS 213009
Study information
Scientific title
REgeneration in CErvical DEgenerative myelopathy (RECEDE): a multi-centre, double-blind, randomised, placebo controlled trial assessing the efficacy of Ibudilast as an adjuvant treatment to decompressive surgery for degenerative cervical myelopathy
Acronym
RECEDE
Study hypothesis
Ibudilast improves recovery following surgical decompression of degenerative cervical myelopathy.
Ethics approval
Approved 19/06/2020, London - Central Research Ethics Committee (The Association of Anaesthetists, 21 Portland Pl, Marylebone, London, UK W1B 1PY; +44 (0)207 104 8208; londoncentral.rec@hra.nhs.uk), ref: 20/LO/0185
Study design
Randomized controlled trial
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised controlled trial
Trial setting
Not specified
Trial type
Treatment
Patient information sheet
See additional file ISRCTN16682024_PIS_03Sep2020 (added 03/09/2020)
Condition
Degenerative cervical myelopathy
Intervention
Participants in the trial will be randomly allocated to one of two groups by their unique trial ID number. One group will be given Ibudilast, the test drug, while the other group will receive a placebo that will appear the same as the Ibudilast. Neither participants nor their doctors will know which group they have been allocated to. By comparing the outcomes between the two groups, we will be able to see whether giving Ibudilast provides a benefit to patients. This study includes a placebo arm since it is not known whether Ibudilast provides benefit and hence a position of equipoise exists.
Each participant will be on trial for approximately 15 months (±21 days). Ibudilast treatment will start within 10 weeks prior to surgery and will continue for up to 24 weeks after surgery. Treatment will be halted 5 days prior to surgery and resumed at the previous maximum dose right after operation. Patients will be taking Ibudilast for a maximum of 34 weeks. Participants will be followed up for 12 months after surgery.
The majority of participants will be identified from participating neurosurgical centres, typically via outpatient clinics. After being told about the study and given the participant information sheet, potential participants will have time to think about participating, and they will have the opportunity to ask a member of the research team any questions they might have. If potential participants decide to take part, they will be asked to sign a consent form and will be given a copy of the participant information sheet and informed consent form to keep. Then they will be given a unique trial ID number that, along with their date of birth, will be used to identify them during their involvement in the trial.
Screening procedures to establish eligibility include a review of participant medical history, age, DCM characteristics, and medications. Clinicians will also perform the following assessments: neurological examination, mJOA assessment, laboratory tests (Full Blood Count, Liver Function Test, Urea and Electrolytes, and urine analysis), an Electrocardiogram, and a serum pregnancy test for women, as we are not including pregnant women in this trial.
Initial assessments following confirmation of eligibility include demographics (weight, gender, ethnicity, date of birth) and review of potential adverse events (starting from point of giving informed consent). Clinicians will also perform the following assessments: 30 metres walk test, VAS pain, SF-36 and EQ-5D/Health Resource usage. Optional additional assessments include: GRASSP-Cervical Myelopathy, SCIMv3, NDI, Quick-DASH and Carer QoL (for sub-study). Dosing diary will be issued during this visit and patients will be instructed on how to fulfill it. A serum sample will be taken for PK studies.
Pre-operatively, following the start of treatment, adverse events will be reviewed by phone call, and Ibudilast or placebo will be delivered by courier or collected from the site by the participant. Additionally, study drug compliance will be assessed, and any changes to medical or drug history will be reviewed. Clinicians will also perform the following assessments: Laboratory Tests (FBC, LFT and U&Es), WHO performance status, Neurological examination, mJOA, 30m walk test, Respiratory Physiology, MRI and a serum sample for PK studies will be taken. Participants will be asked to complete the following questionnaires: VAS pain, SF-36, and EQ-5D/Health Resource usage. The following optional assessments will be conducted for sub-studies: Carer QoL, and Gait Lab (sub-study for Addenbrooke’s only). The following assessments are optional: GRASSP-Cervical Myelopathy, SCIMv3, NDI and Quick-DASH.
An optional CSF sample will be taken intra-operatively, if possible but not limited to, and a paired serum sample for PK studies will be taken.
Post-operative procedures on discharge will include: adverse events will be reviewed (including operative complications), drug compliance assessed, and further IMP dispensed. Clinicians will also perform a neurological examination. Participants will be asked to complete the VAS Pain questionnaire. The NDI questionnaire is optional.
Follow-up assessments at 3 months post-surgery (±21 days) include a review of medication and adverse events, study drug compliance assessment, and further IMP dispensed. Clinicians will also perform the following assessments: Laboratory Tests (FBC, LFT and U&Es), neurological examination, mJOA, 30m walk test and a serum sample for PK studies will be taken. Participants will be asked to complete the following questionnaires: VAS pain and SF-36. The following optional assessments will be conducted for sub-studies: Carer QoL and Gait Lab (sub-study for Addenbrooke’s only). The following assessments are optional: GRASSP-Cervical Myelopathy, NDI, EQ-5D/Health Resource usage and Quick-DASH.
SImilarly at 6 months post-surgery (±21 days), medication will be reviewed, adverse events reviewed, and study drug compliance assessed. Clinicians will also perform the following assessments: Laboratory Tests (FBC, LFT and U&Es), neurological examination, mJOA, 30m walk test, Respiratory physiology, MRI and a serum sample for PK studies will be taken. Participants will be asked to complete the following questionnaires: VAS pain, SF-36, and
EQ-5D/Health Resource usage. The following optional assessments will be conducted for sub-studies: Carer QoL and Gait lab (sub-study at Addenbrooke’s only). The following assessments are optional: GRASSP-Cervical Myelopathy, SCIMv3, NDI and Quick-DASH.
At the end of the trial, at 12 months post-surgery (±21 days), adverse events will be reviewed. Clinicians will perform the following assessments: Laboratory Tests (FBC, LFT and U&Es), neurological examination, mJOA, 30m walk test and a serum sample for PK studies will be taken. Participants will be asked to complete the following questionnaires: VAS pain, SF-36 and EQ-5D/Health Resource usage. The following optional assessment will be conducted for sub-study: Carer QoL. The following assessments are optional: GRASSP-Cervical Myelopathy, NDI and Quick-DASH.
Intervention type
Other
Phase
Phase III
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
1. Motor dysfunction in upper and lower extremities, loss of sensation, and sphincter dysfunction measured by change in the modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association Score (mJOA), an18-point clinician-administered scale, between screening and 6 months post-operatively
2. Neck pain measured bychange in Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) neck pain between screening and 6 months post-operatively
Secondary outcome measures
Health-related quality of life measured using the Physical Component Summary (PCS) and the Mental Component Summary (MCS) from the Short Form 36 (SF-36) v2 questionnaire between screening and 6 months post-operatively
Overall trial start date
03/03/2017
Overall trial end date
28/09/2025
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Aged 18 to 80 years
2. Informed consent to participate given
3. Degenerative cervical myelopathy
4. Preoperative mJOA score ≥8 and ≤14
5. Scheduled for first surgical decompression as part of usual clinical practice
Participant type
Patient
Age group
Adult
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
Planned Sample Size: 362; UK Sample Size: 362
Participant exclusion criteria
1. Previous surgery for degenerative cervical myelopathy
2. Degenerative cervical myelopathy symptoms due to cervical trauma, determined at the discretion of the investigator
3. Hypersensitivity to Ibudilast or any of the formulation components
4. Evidence of acute hepatitis, clinically significant chronic hepatitis, or evidence of clinically significant impaired hepatic function through clinical and laboratory evaluation (including ALP >1.5x ULN; ALT or AST >2x ULN; GGT >3x ULN)
5. Evidence of thrombocytopenia at screening through laboratory evaluation including platelet count <5000
6. Active malignancy defined as a history of invasive malignancy, except if the patient has received treatment and displayed no clinical signs and symptoms for ≥5 years
7. Recent history (≤3 years) of chemical substance dependency or significant psychosocial disturbance that may impact the outcome or trial participation
8. Female patients with child bearing potential who are unwilling or unable to use reliable methods of contraception
9. Female patients who are pregnant, lactating or planning pregnancy during the course of the trial
10. Inability to comply with trial procedures or follow-up schedule including IMP regime
11. Unable to take gelatin-based product
12. Participation in another CTIMP or device trial ≤30 days before the time of recruitment
13. Functional disability from a concomitant neurological disease that would mask the symptoms of degenerative cervical myelopathy, determined at the discretion of the investigator. Including but not limited to stroke with a residual disability, cerebellar ataxia, Parkinson’s disease, symptomatic lumbar stenosis, and multiple sclerosis.
14. Resting pulse < 50 bpm, sinoatrial or atrioventricular block, uncontrolled hypertension, or corrected QT interval (QTcF) >450 ms
15. History of stomach or intestinal surgery or any other condition that could interfere with, or is judged by the investigator to interfere, with absorption, distribution, metabolism, or excretion of IMP
16. Unable to converse, read, or write English
Recruitment start date
28/09/2020
Recruitment end date
28/09/2025
Locations
Countries of recruitment
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Addenbrookes Hospital
Hills Road
Cambridge
CB2 0QQ
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
250 Euston Road
London
NW1 2PG
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust
Lower Lane
Liverpool
L9 7LJ
United Kingdom
Sponsor information
Organisation
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Sponsor details
Addenbrookes Hospital
Hills Road
Cambridge
CB2 0QQ
United Kingdom
+44 (0)1223348158
carrie.bayliss@addenbrookes.nhs.uk
Sponsor type
Hospital/treatment centre
Website
Funders
Funder type
Government
Funder name
NIHR Academy; Grant Codes: CS-2015-15-023
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Funder name
National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) (UK)
Alternative name(s)
NIHR
Funding Body Type
unknown
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Planned publication in a high-impact peer reviewed journal.
IPD sharing statement:
The datasets generated and/or analysed during the current study during this study will be included in the subsequent results publication
Intention to publish date
28/09/2026
Participant level data
Other
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list