T2000 in Essential Tremor - Open Label Continuation

Condition(s) targeted: Essential Tremor

Intervention: T2000 (Drug)

Phase: Phase 2

Status: Recruiting

Sponsored by: Taro Pharmaceuticals USA

Official(s) and/or principal investigator(s):
Anthony Lang, MD FRCPC, Principal Investigator, Affiliation: University Health Network - Toronto Western Hospital

Overall contact:
Gail Somer, Email: gsomer@globalcp.com

This study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of T2000 when used to treat patients with moderate to severe essential tremor over an 18 month period.

Official title: Phase II Efficacy and Safety of Taro Pharmaceuticals' Pro-Drug T2000 (1,3-Dimethoxymethyl-5,5-Diphenyl-Barbituric Acid) in Patients With Essential Tremor: An Open-Label Dose Continuation Study

Study design: Treatment, Open Label, Uncontrolled, Single Group Assignment, Efficacy Study

Primary outcome: Effect of treatment on tremor will be measured by a tremor scale as well as by assessment of functional activity with specific tasks.

Secondary outcome: Safety parameters including neurological examination, blood tests and EKG will be monitored throughout the treatment period and during withdrawal of the medication.

Detailed description: Essential tremor (ET) is a common form of involuntary shaking not related to Parkinson's disease. The medications that are currently used to treat ET work in a small proportion of patients and provide only partial improvement in symptoms. Use of these current medications is also limited by side-effects in many patients.

T2000 is a medication currently under development for the treatment of essential tremor. Although T2000 is a new medication, it belongs to a class of medications that has been used for many years for the treatment of a variety of medical conditions. In previous studies, T2000 appeared to be effective in controlling symptoms of ET and some patients with severe ET had major improvements in tremor. In some patients T2000 was well tolerated for periods up to 5 months and the minimal side-effects seen were those that would be expected for medications in this class.

The current study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of T2000 in patients with moderate to severe essential tremor. Patients will receive doses of T2000 beginning at 600 mg a day, followed by 800 mg a day and up to 1000 mg a day. The total duration of treatment will be 18 months. Patient's tremor and neurological examination will be monitored throughout the study.

Minimum age: 18 Years. Maximum age: 75 Years. Gender(s): Both.

Criteria:

Inclusion Criteria:

Patients will be enrolled following completion of a dose escalation trial (such as T2000-0533)

- Confirmed essential tremor by NIH criteria

- Significant functional activity limitation due to ET

- Patients who have failed, are inadequately treated or cannot tolerate alternative

treatments for ET as well as treatment naïve patients who have considered but declined alternative treatment

Exclusion Criteria:

- Patients adequately controlled without side effects on a current ET treatment

- Pregnant patients or patients who may become pregnant during the study

- Patients with other medical conditions that may cause tremor, such as Parkinson's

disease or active hyperthyroidism

- Patients taking medications that might produce tremor or interfere with the evaluation

of tremor such as CNS-stimulants or beta-blockers

- Patients who must take medications that alter liver metabolism as well as patients

with liver disease or coagulation disorders

- Patients with seizure disorders

- Patients with a history of allergy or hypersensitivity reaction to barbiturates or

other related medications, such as phenobarbital or phenytoin

- Patient with significant general medical or clinical laboratory abnormalities

Gail Somer, Email: gsomer@globalcp.com

Movement Disorder Clinic: University Health Network; Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario M5R 2N5, Canada; Not yet recruiting
Julie So, Phone: 416-603-5875, Email: jso@uhnres.utoronto.ca
Anthony Lang, MD FRCPC, Principal Investigator

Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Clinic - The Ottawa Hospital: Civic Campus, Ottawa, Ontario K1Y 4E9, Canada; Not yet recruiting
Melodie Mortensen, Phone: 613-798-5555, Ext: 14619, Email: mmortensen@ohri.ca
David Grimes, MD FRCPC, Principal Investigator

London Health Sciences Center, London, Ontario N6A 5A5, Canada; Recruiting
Cheryl Horn, Phone: 519-685-8500, Ext: 35178, Email: Cheryl.Horn@lhsc.on.ca
Mandar Jog, MD FRCPC, Principal Investigator

Related publications:

Melmed C, Moros D, Rutman H. Treatment of essential tremor with the barbiturate T2000 (1,3-dimethoxymethyl-5,5-diphenyl-barbituric acid). Mov Disord. 2007 Apr 15;22(5):723-7.

Starting date: August 2007
Ending date: November 2009
Last updated: January 8, 2009