Prolonged-release Fampridine as Adjunct Therapy to Active Motor Training in MS Patients

Multiple Sclerosis

Phase 4, single center, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Fifty (50) patients with MacDonald criteria (2005) multiple sclerosis will undergo active motor training as per the NeuroGym protocol, consisting of 3 sessions of 1 hour per week for a period of 6 weeks (total of 18 sessions). Half of the patients will be randomized to receive prolonged-release fampridine 10 mg BID as per label, and the other half will receive a placebo BID. All patients will continue to take their medication (fampridine or placebo) during a subsequent observational period of 8 weeks. Patients will be evaluated at times -4, 0, 6 and 14 weeks. Study Objectives: Primary: To demonstrate that MS subjects treated with prolonged-release fampridine 10mg BID will show greater benefit from active motor training as compared with subjects treated with placebo in terms of incidence of responders, degree of response, and duration of response. Secondary: To demonstrate that MS subjects treated with prolonged-release fampridine 10mg BID will show greater benefit from active motor training as compared with subjects treated with placebo in terms of quality of life measures.

Rationale for the study Prolonged-release fampridine (4-aminopyridine) is a voltage-gated potassium channel blocking agent. It relieves conduction block in demyelinated nerve fibers by blocking voltage-gated potassium channels on the paranodal axon membranes in vitro. It enhances synaptic transmission by blocking repolarizing potassium currents thus increasing the size of the presynaptic action potential and thus increasing transmitter release. It has been shown in multiple sclerosis patients to improve walking capabilities as measured by the timed 25 feet walk test by more than 20% in approximately 34% of subjects. Prolonged-release fampridine also has measurable effects on motor evoked potentials with transcranial magnetic stimulation in patients with multiple sclerosis and partial spinal cord injuries. The brain is a dynamic plastic organ that continuously adapts to the demands made upon it. Prolonged-release fampridine by improving nerve conduction in multiple sclerosis patients has the potential to enhance brain plasticity. Activities or processes that call upon such plasticity could therefore also benefit from prolonged-release fampridine. Active motor training when combined with prolonged-release fampridine in patients with multiple sclerosis could therefore show a larger and more sustained measurable clinical benefit than with active motor training alone. Prolonged-release fampridine by enhancing brain plasticity through improved nerve conduction in the central nervous system can potentiate the clinical benefits of active motor training as measured via assessments of walking capabilities and quality of life in subjects with multiple sclerosis of varying severity.

Canada