Fenfluramine for the Treatment of Different Types of Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathies: a Pilot Trial Exploring Epileptic and Non-epileptic Outcomes

Launched by HOSPITAL RUBER INTERNACIONAL · Jan 31, 2022

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is exploring the use of a medication called fenfluramine to help treat certain types of severe epilepsy and related conditions in children and young adults. The study will look at how fenfluramine affects the frequency and severity of seizures, as well as other aspects of daily life, such as thinking ability, awareness, and movement. They are particularly focused on five specific conditions that cause developmental and epileptic encephalopathies, which are complex disorders that affect brain development and function.

To participate in this trial, individuals must be between 2 and 35 years old and have a diagnosis of epilepsy along with some level of intellectual disability, with symptoms starting before age 11. Participants must have tried at least three other seizure medications without success and experience certain types of seizures regularly. If you or someone you know meets these criteria, they could benefit from joining this study, which is currently recruiting. Throughout the trial, participants will take fenfluramine and attend regular visits to monitor their progress and any changes in their condition. It’s essential for families to be involved and keep track of the participant's seizures and any side effects during the study.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• GENERAL INCLUSION CRITERIA:
• • Age between 2 and 35 years (both included).
• • Diagnosis of epilepsy associated with some degree of intellectual disability, starting before 11 years of age.
• • All patients will have a phenotype consistent with their genetic, electroclinical or neuroimaging diagnosis.
• SPECIFIC INCLUSION CRITERIA PER GROUP:
• • ---GROUP 1: Non-controlled epilepsy after failing at least 3 antiseizure medications, with a minimum of 4 countable seizures with motor semiology per month during the baseline period of 3 months.
• • Group 1A: Patients with genetic testing showing a pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant in main synaptopathy genes (SYNGAP1 and STXBP1).
• • Group 1B: Patients with genetic testing showing a pathogenic or likely pathogenic inverted duplication of chromosome 15 \[inv-dup (15)\].
• • Group 1C: Patients with neuroimaging showing multifocal or bilateral malformations of cortical development.
• * GROUP 2:
• • Electroclinical diagnosis of Continuous Spikes and Waves during Sleep (CSWS) syndrome, with baseline video-EEG monitoring showing epileptiform activity occupying at least 50% of slow sleep tracing, after failing at least 3 antiseizure medications.
• ADDITIONAL INCLUSION CRITERIA:
• In addition, all subjects must meet all of the following inclusion criteria to be enrolled into the study:
• • Subject is male or non-pregnant, non-lactating female. Female subjects of childbearing potential must not be pregnant or breast-feeding. Female subjects of childbearing potential must have a negative urine or serum pregnancy test at screening and during the study.
• • Receiving at least 1 concomitant antiseizure medications (ASMs) and up to 4 concomitant ASMs, inclusive. Ketogenic Diet (KD) and Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) are permitted but do not count towards the total number of ASMs. Rescue medications for seizures are not counted towards the total number of ASMs.
• • All medications or interventions for epilepsy (including ketogenic diet and vagal nerve stimulation) must be stable for at least 4 weeks prior to screening and are expected to remain stable throughout the study.
• • Subject has been informed of the nature of the study and informed consent has been obtained from the legally responsible parent/guardian.
• • Subject has provided assent in accordance with Institutional Review Board (IRB)/Ethics Committee requirements, if capable.
• • Subject's parent/caregiver is willing and able to be compliant with diary completion, visit schedule and study drug accountability.
• • EXCLUSION CRITERIA
• Subjects who meet any of the following exclusion criteria will not be enrolled into the study:
• • Subject has a known hypersensitivity to fenfluramine or any of the excipients in the study medication.
• • Subject has only non-motor seizures (such as absences), for group 1.
• • Subject has pulmonary arterial hypertension.
• • Subject has current or past history of cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease.
• • Subject has current or recent history of Anorexia Nervosa, bulimia, or depression within the prior year that required medical treatment or psychological treatment for a duration greater than 1 month.
• • Subject has a current or past history of glaucoma.
• • Subject has moderate or severe renal or hepatic impairment.
• • Subject is receiving concomitant therapy with any of the following: centrally-acting anorectic agents; monoamine-oxidase inhibitors; any centrally-acting compound with clinically appreciable amount of serotonin agonist or antagonist properties, including serotonin reuptake inhibition; other centrally-acting noradrenergic agonists.
• • Subject is currently receiving an investigational product.
• • Subject has participated in another clinical trial within the past 30 days (calculated from that study's last scheduled visit).
• • Subject is at imminent risk of self-harm or harm to others.
• • Subject is unwilling or unable to comply with scheduled visits, drug administration plan, laboratory tests, other study procedures, and study restrictions.
• • Subject is institutionalized in a general nursing home (i.e., in a facility that does not provide skilled epilepsy care).
• • Subject does not have a reliable caregiver who can provide seizure diary information throughout the study.
• • Subject has a severe clinically significant condition.