A Pilot Investigator Initiated Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability and Efficacy of Elamipretide in the Treatment of Advanced Symptoms of Friedreich Ataxia (FRDA)

To evaluate the safety, tolerability, and activity of Elamipretide in treating vision loss in Friedreich Ataxia (FRDA).

Anyone considering participating in a clinical trial should discuss the matter with their physician. FARA does not endorse or recommend any particular studies.

Study Details:

To evaluate the effect of high dose (40-60mg) versus low dose (20-30mg) Elamipretide on high contrast visual acuity in FRDA compared to baseline at 52 weeks with the option to extend for an additional 52 weeks if there are objective signs of clinical improvement on primary or secondary endpoints. The interim analysis will be based on data from a 36-week visit. For subjects worse than 20/800 at study start, they will be followed using low vision alternatives only.

 

Key Inclusion Criteria:

1. Genetically confirmed FRDA (point mutations allowed).
2. Age >16 years.
3. Disease onset before 18 years of age.
4. If female, the subject is not pregnant or lactating or intending to become pregnant before, during, or within 30 days after the last dose of study drug. Female subjects of child-bearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test result at Screening, a negative urine pregnancy test result at Baseline.
5. All subjects must agree to use a reliable method of contraception throughout the study and for 30 days after the last dose of study drug. Male subjects should not father a baby during the study or for at least 30 days after the last dose of study drug.
6. All concomitant medications (including over-the-counter medications), vitamins, and supplements must be at stable doses for 30 days prior to study entry and kept stable throughout the study to the best of their ability.
7. Visual acuity (VA) worse than 20/40 (binocular) on the basis of FRDA. Must not be correctable by refraction, or subjects must have sufficient physical exam findings of optic neuropathy (funduscopic, visual fields, or retinal ganglion cell loss) to justify the primary diagnosis of FRDA related optic neuropathy

Or

1. Ejection Fraction (EF) less than 50% at last evaluation (within 1 year before screening), with a history consistent with cardiomyopathy from FRDA, and VA 20/25- 20/40.

Key Exclusion Criteria:

1. Any unstable illness that in the investigator’s opinion precludes participation in the study.
2. Use of any investigational product within 30 days prior to Screening.
3. A history of substance abuse.
4. Diagnosis of active HIV or Hepatitis B or C infection.
5. Presence of severe renal disease (eGFR <30 mL/min) or hepatic disease [aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or alanine aminotransferase (ALT) >2x the upper limit of normal] as evidenced by laboratory results at Screening.
6. Clinically significant abnormal white blood cell count (ANC <1500), hemoglobin (< 9.0 gm/dL), or platelet count (100 K or >500 K) as evidenced by laboratory test results at Screening.
7. Any other active cause of optic neuropathy (Vitamin B12 deficiency, Vitamin E deficiency, etc.) or cardiac disease
8. EF less than 35% at last echocardiographic evaluation
9. Uncontrolled arrhythmia
10. Current use of any systemic chronic immunosuppressive drugs
11. Current use of Metformin

Additional inclusion and exclusion criteria may apply and will be evaluated by a study doctor.

FARA believes that there are many different approaches to treating Friedreich’s ataxia, and that it will require a cocktail approach of two or more treatments to slow, stop, reverse, and cure FA. Learn more about the approach behind this potential treatment and explore the other approaches that are in the FA Drug Development pipeline.