Clinical study to assess treatment effects of Cerebrolysin in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

ISRCTN ISRCTN38393880
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN38393880
Submission date
01/12/2023
Registration date
08/01/2024
Last edited
09/01/2024
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Nervous System Diseases
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data
Record updated in last year

Plain English Summary

Background and study aims
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive condition that causes you to lose control of your muscles in stages. Cerebrolysin is a drug that supports the nerves and may therefore have a beneficial effect in the treatment of ALS. This study assessed whether patients have a greater therapeutic benefit in treating the symptoms of ALS when Cerebrolysin is added to the standard treatment (riluzole).

Who can participate?
Patients aged 18 years and over with a confirmed diagnosis of ALS and a considerable increase in muscle tone

What does the study involve?
Patients received intravenous injections of 10 ml Cerebrolysin once a day, 5 days a week for the first month, then 3 days a week for the next 2 months, administered at home by a specialist nurse. Patients in the placebo group received the same treatment with 10 ml of normal saline. All patients received 50 mg of riluzole by mouth twice daily. Clinical assessments of motor and functional deterioration, spasticity and depressive symptoms were made before the start of treatment, at month 1, month 2 and at the end of the treatment period at month 3.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
The potential benefit was an improvement in ALS symptoms, and no safety issues were expected.

Where is the study run from?
Instituto Cardiológico Banfield (ICB) (Argentina)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
July 2020 to June 2022

Who is funding the study?
Instituto Cardiológico Banfield (ICB) (Argentina) and the study drug was provided by EVER Neuro Pharma GmbH

Who is the main contact?
Dr Afredo José Firstenfeld, alfredo.firstenfeld@gmail.com

Contact information

Prof Alfredo José Firstenfeld
Public, Scientific, Principal Investigator

Maipú 660, B1828IJN Gran Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
B1828IJN
Argentina

Phone +54 (0)11 4202-5925
Email alfredo.firstenfeld@gmail.com

Study information

Study designInvestigator-initiated interventional prospective single-center placebo-controlled randomized double-blind Phase II study
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeQuality of life, Treatment, Safety, Efficacy
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details to request a participant information sheet
Scientific titleAdd-on treatment with Cerebrolysin improves clinical symptoms in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients: results of a prospective, single-center, placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind, Phase II study
Study hypothesisPatients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) benefit more from treatment with a combination of Cerebrolysin and riluzole than they do from treatment with riluzole alone.
Ethics approval(s)

Approved 12/01/2021, Comité De Ética De Clínica Privada Banfield Bancei (Félix de Azara 1780 – Banfield, Pcia de Bs. As, Buenos Aires, Banfield, Austria; +54 (0)11 3754-0050; info@clinicabanfield.com), ref: Carta de dictamen - Cerebrolysin - 12ene21

ConditionAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis
InterventionPatients were randomized 1:1 to Cerebrolysin or placebo (0.9% NaCl). An Excel-generated randomization list was used with blocks of 10 patients to account for balancing the sample size.

Patients received intravenous injections of 10 ml Cerebrolysin once a day, 5 days a week for the first month, then 3 days a week for the next 2 months, administered at home by a specialist nurse.

Patients in the placebo group received the same treatment with 10 ml of normal saline.

All patients received 50 mg of riluzole by mouth twice daily.

Clinical assessments of motor and functional deterioration, spasticity and depressive symptoms were made before the start of treatment, at month 1, month 2 and at the end of the treatment period at month 3.
Intervention typeDrug
Pharmaceutical study type(s)Clinical efficacy and safety study
PhasePhase II
Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s)Cerebrolysin, riluzole
Primary outcome measureFunctional impairment is measured using the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale – revised (ALSFRS-R) at baseline and month 1
Secondary outcome measures1. Functional impairment is measured using the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale – revised (ALSFRS-R) at baseline to months 2 and 3
2. Depressive symptoms are measured using the Beck’s Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) at baseline to months 1, 2, and 3
3. Spasticity is measured by the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) at baseline to months 1, 2, and 3
4. Gross motor skills are measured by the time taken to walk four meters, the walked distance in 120 seconds, and the number of knee bends to the opposite arm at baseline to months 1, 2, and 3
5. Hand strength is measured by an handheld dynamometer at baseline to months 1, 2, and 3
Overall study start date08/07/2020
Overall study end date02/06/2022

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit18 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participants20
Total final enrolment20
Participant inclusion criteria1. Either sex and at least 18 years of age
2. Clinically definite diagnosis of ALS according to the El Escorial and revised Airlie House diagnostic criteria
3. Limb onset and/or bulbar onset with pyramidal signs
4. Modified Ashworth Spasticity Scale score of 3
5. Informed consent
Participant exclusion criteria1. Co-morbidities such as hepatic disease, renal failure or severe renal impairment, coronary disease, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, or dementia
2. Any condition that might interfere with compliance with study procedures or influence outcome assessment
3. Pregnant or breastfeeding
4. Participation in another interventional study within the previous 2 months
5. Contraindication to Cerebrolysin
6. Concomitant use of ginkgo biloba, erythropoietin, citicoline, and amantadine
Recruitment start date29/07/2021
Recruitment end date10/03/2022

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Argentina

Study participating centre

Instituto Cardiológico Banfield
Maipú 660
Buenos Aires
B1828IJN
Argentina

Sponsor information

Instituto Cardiológico Banfield
Hospital/treatment centre

Maipú 660
Buenos Aires
B1828IJN
Argentina

Phone +54 (0)11 4202-5925
Email mccomeba@hotmail.es
Website http://www.institutocardiologicobanfield.com/

Funders

Funder type

Hospital/treatment centre

Instituto Cardiológico Banfield

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date31/12/2023
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryData sharing statement to be made available at a later date
Publication and dissemination planThe publication is in the submission process.
IPD sharing planThe data-sharing plans for the current study are unknown and will be made available at a later date.

Editorial Notes

20/12/2023: Study's existence confirmed by the Comité De Ética De Clínica Privada Banfield Bancei.