Study of Daily Pentoxifylline as a Rescue Treatment in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Official Title: “A Double-Blinded Randomized Placebo Controlled Study of Daily Pentoxifylline as a Rescue Treatment in DMD”

The purpose of this study is to see if male children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) have changes in strength when given the drug Pentoxifylline as a rescue treatment. A total of 64 subjects are expected to participate through all other centers of the Cooperative International Neuromuscular Research Group (CINRG) worldwide.

The primary purpose of this study is to see whether the addition of pentoxifylline to a steroid regimen is effective in treating deteriorating muscle strength by comparing the muscle strength of PTX treated subjects and placebo treated subjects.

DMD is the most common and devastating type of muscular dystrophy (incidence 1 in 3500 live born males worldwide). DMD is characterized by a complete loss of dystrophin, leading to progressive muscle weakness and wasting.

No cure is currently available despite our present understanding of the disorder and the discovery and characterization of the causative gene and its protein product dystrophin in 1987. Corticosteroids (prednisone, deflazacort) may delay disease progression and until now it is the only treatment that proved to be beneficial for patients with DMD. Other alternative supplements like creatine and glutamine also delay diseased progression.

Intervention(s) in this Clinical Trial

• Drug: Pentoxifylline
  • Participants will be randomized to receive either pentoxifylline or placebo in addition to their stable steroid therapy. Active drug and placebo preparations will be supplied as gel capsules of identical size, appearance and taste. Active drug capsules will contain one 400 mg time-release pentoxifylline tablet and inert filler. Placebo capsules will contain inert filler. Based on weight at screening, <30 mg will receive 1 400 capsule/day; 30-49 kg will receive two 400 capsules/day; 50 kg or greater will receive three 400 mg capsules/day.

Arms, Groups and Cohorts in this Clinical Trial

• Active Comparator: 1
  • Pentoxifylline
• No Intervention: 2
  • Placebo

Primary Measures

• Quantitative muscle strength will be measured using a CINRG Quantitative Muscle System (CQMS). The highest value of two consecutive maximal efforts will be recorded. The primary strength endpoint will be total CQMS score.
  • Time Frame: January 2008
    Safety Issue?: No

Secondary Measures

• Strength of arm, leg and grip QMT scores Measured Screening and Months 1, 3, 6, 9 & 12
  • Time Frame: January 2008
    Safety Issue?: No
• Manual Muscle Testing (MMT) score measured at screening and months 1, 3, 6, 9 & 12 using the Medical Research Council (MRC) scoring system.
  • Time Frame: January 2008
    Safety Issue?: No
• Functional evaluations measured at screening and months 1, 3, 6, 9 & 12
  • Time Frame: January 2008
    Safety Issue?: No
• Time function assessments, including time rising from the floor, time to climb four standard stairs, and time to walk 10 meters. They will be measured at screening and months 1, 3, 6, 9 & 12.
  • Time Frame: January 2008
    Safety Issue?: No
• pulmonary function test (PFA's) measured at screening and months 1, 3, 6, 9 & 12
  • Time Frame: January 2008
    Safety Issue?: No
• Pediatric Quality of Life (PQOL) measured at screening and months 1, 3, 6, 9 & 12
  • Time Frame: January 2008
    Safety Issue?: No
• Goniometry measured at screening and months 1, 3, 6, 9 & 12
  • Time Frame: January 2008
    Safety Issue?: No
• TNF-alpha and TGF-beta measured at screening and months 1, 3, 6, 9 & 12
  • Time Frame: February 2008
    Safety Issue?: No

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male
• Age 7 years to 100 years
• Ability to ambulate for 10 meters. Assistive devices are allowed.
• Diagnosis of DMD confirmed by at least one the following:
• On stable dose of prednisone, prednisolone or deflazacort for at least 12 months prior to screening.
• Participants who are on stable dose of any combination of the following compounds (creatine, glutamine, coenzyme Q10, vitamin E, C or D, JUVEN, arginine, calcium) must have taken these medications for at least 2 months prior to screening. Subjects are not required to take these medications to participate in the study.
• All other herbs, supplements or green tea (other than those noted above) have been discontinued 3 months prior to screening.
• Ability to provide reproducible QMT bicep score with no more than 15% variation between scores during screening.
• Normal blood clotting ability evidenced by a platelet function assessment (PFA).

Exclusion Criteria:

• Currently enrolled in another treatment clinical trial.
• History of significant concomitant illness or significant impairment of renal or hepatic function.
• History of impairment of blood clotting ability (as evidenced by increased PT/PTT or PFA over the upper limit of normal (ULN)).
• Recent cerebral or retinal hemorrhage.
• History of bleeding diathesis or gastric ulcer.

Gender Eligibility for this Clinical Trial: Male

Minimum Age for this Clinical Trial: 7 Years

Maximum Age for this Clinical Trial: N/A

Are Healthy Volunteers Accepted for this Clinical Trial?: No

Lead Investigator: Cooperative International Neuromuscular Research Group Other

Overall Clinical Trial Officials and Contacts

Diana Escolar, MD Study Chair Children's National Medical Center, Center for Genetic Medicine  

Information obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov on February 12, 2012

Link to the current ClinicalTrials.gov record. http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00243789

Study ID Number: CNMC0705

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00243789

Health Authority: United States: Food and Drug Administration