FUSION: A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy, Safety, Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of ION363 in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Participants With Fused in Sarcoma Mutations (FUS-ALS)

Ionis Pharmaceuticals

Status and phase: Active, not recruiting; Phase 3

Conditions: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Treatments: Drug: ION363; Drug: Placebo

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Industry

Identifiers

NCT04768972

2020-005522-28 (EudraCT Number)

ION363-CS1

Details and patient eligibility

About

The primary purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of ION363 on clinical function and survival in carriers of fused in sarcoma mutations with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FUS-ALS).

Full description

This is a multi-center, three-part study of ION363 in up to 95 participants. Part 1 will consist of participants who will be randomized in a 2:1 ratio to receive a multi-dose regimen of ION363 or placebo for a period of 60 weeks, followed by Part 2, in which participants will receive open-label ION363 for a period of 84 weeks. Participants may continue to receive open-label ION363 in Part 3 for up to 3 additional years or until ION363 becomes commercially available in the patient's country or until the Sponsor discontinues the ION363 development program, whichever occurs earlier.

Enrollment: 89 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 10+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria for Part 1:

1. Participants must be ≥10 years of age at the time of informed consent and have signs or symptoms consistent with an ALS disease (in the opinion of the Investigator).
2. Genetic mutation in FUS confirmed by a testing laboratory that is Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) certified and European Conformity (CE)-marked, or equivalent. Mutations must be reviewed and approved by a variant classification committee.
3. Upright (sitting position) slow vital capacity (SVC) is ≥ 50% of predicted value (as adjusted for sex, age, and height) OR if SVC is < 50% of predicted value, must be 10 to 30 years of age (inclusive) at the time of informed consent AND had ALS symptom onset within 12 months before the time of informed consent.
4. Participants taking edaravone, riluzole, Relyvrio (sodium phenylbutyrate/taurursodiol combination, called Albrioza in Canada), sodium phenylbutyrate, or tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA, also known as taurursodiol or urosodiol) must be on a stable dose for ≥ 28 days prior to Day 1, and willing to continue on that dose throughout the duration of the study, unless the Investigator determines that it should be discontinued for medical reasons, in which case it may not be restarted during the study.
5. Stable concomitant medications and nutritional support for at least 1 month prior to Study Day 1. Concomitant medications or nutritional support that have not been stable for at least 1 month prior to Study Day 1 may be allowed in consultation with the Sponsor Medical Monitor or designee.
6. Females must not be pregnant or lactating. Males and females must be willing to following protocol-specified contraception requirements, or be surgically sterile, or be post-menopausal (females).
7. Has an informant/caregiver who, in the Investigator's judgment, has frequent and sufficient contact with the participant as to be able to provide accurate information about the participant's cognitive and functional abilities throughout the study. In addition, a patient who is < 18 years old must have a trial partner (parent, caregiver, or other) who is reliable, competent, at least 18 years of age, and willing to accompany the patient to all trial visits.

Inclusion Criteria for Part 2:

1. Completed, or rescued from, Part 1, or
2. Enrolled and received at least 1 dose of ION363 in the Investigator-initiated study program
3. Patient meeting Criteria #1-2 is otherwise suitable for study participation, in the opinion of the Investigator

Exclusion Criteria for Part 1:

1. Requiring permanent ventilation (> 22 hours of mechanical ventilation [invasive or noninvasive] per day for > 21 consecutive days) and/or tracheostomy.

2. Any known genetic variant (other than those in the FUS gene) that is pathogenic or likely to be pathogenic for the ALS-frontotemporal dementia (FTD) spectrum of disease.

3. Positive test result for:

   1. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
   2. Hepatitis C (HCV), unless previously treated and has been serum/plasma HCV RNA negative for at least 6 months after the end of treatment
   3. Hepatitis B (HBV) by HBV surface antigen test, unless currently on nucleotide/nucleoside analogue treatment

4. Clinically significant abnormalities in medical history (e.g., previous acute coronary syndrome within 3 months before Screening, major surgery within 2 months before Screening) or physical examination.

5. Uncontrolled hypertension (blood pressure [BP] > 160/100 millimeters of mercury [mm Hg]).

6. Malignancy within 1 year before Screening, except for basal or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin or carcinoma in situ of the cervix that has been successfully treated. Participants with a history of other malignancies that have been treated with curative intent and which have not recurred within 6 months may also be eligible per Investigator judgement.

7. Obstructive hydrocephalus

8. Known significant brain or spinal disease that would interfere with the lumbar puncture (LP) process, CSF circulation or safety assessment, including tumors or abnormalities by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography, subarachnoid hemorrhage, suggestion of raised intracranial pressure on MRI or ophthalmic examination, spinal stenosis or curvature, Chiari malformation, syringomyelia, tethered spinal cord syndrome and connective tissue disorders such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and Marfan syndrome.

9. Concurrent participation in any other interventional clinical study.

10. Previous or current treatment with an oligonucleotide (including small interfering RNA [siRNA], tofersen). This exclusion criterion does not apply to COVID-19 vaccinations, which are allowed.

11. Treatment with another investigational drug, biological agent, or device within 1 month before Screening, or 5 half-lives of investigational agent, whichever is longer.

12. History of gene therapy or cell transplantation or any other experimental brain surgery.

13. Anticipated need, in the opinion of the Investigator, for administration of any antiplatelet or anticoagulant medication that cannot be safely paused before and/or after an LP procedure according to local or institutional guidelines and/or Investigator determination after consultation with the appropriate treating physician. Low-dose aspirin (≤ 100 mg/day, administered as monotherapy) is permitted and may be continued through the LP procedure.

14. Have any other conditions, which, in the opinion of the Investigator would make the participant unsuitable for inclusion or could interfere with the individual participating in or completing the study, in the opinion of the Investigator.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

---

89 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

ION363

Experimental group

Description:

ION363 will be administered by lumbar intrathecal (IT) bolus injection every 12 weeks, with an additional loading dose at 4 weeks, over a 60-week double-blind treatment period in Part 1; every 12 weeks for 84 weeks in the open-label extension treatment period (Part 2), with an additional loading dose administered 4 weeks after the first dose. Patients may continue to receive open-label ION363 every 12 weeks in Part 3 for up to 3 additional years or until ION363 becomes commercially available in the patient's country or until the Sponsor discontinues the development program, whichever occurs earlier.

Treatment:

Drug: ION363

Placebo

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Placebo will be administered by lumbar IT bolus injection every12 weeks, with an additional loading dose at 4 weeks, over a 60-week double-blind treatment period (Part 1).

Treatment:

Drug: Placebo