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The NO-ALS Study: A Trial of Nicotinamide/Pterostilbene Supplement in ALS.

A Randomized Placebo-controlled Trial of Nicotinamide/Pterostilbene Supplement in ALS: The NO-ALS Study

Status
Active, not recruiting
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04562831
Enrollment
380
Registered
2020-09-24
Start date
2020-10-07
Completion date
2026-10-31
Last updated
2026-01-12

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Brief summary

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a serious rapidly progressive disease of the nervous system. The average survival from the time of diagnosis is 3 years. Apart from Riluzole, there is no effective treatment. Care of advanced ALS will have a cost of 4-8 million NOK per year Research i.a. from the investigators department has shown that increased activity in histone deacetylation enzymes (sirtuins) together with increased access to NAD can delay disease progression. Nicotinamide riboside (NR) can increase cells' access to NAD and Pterostilben will stimulate sirtuins. The investigators want to study whether combination therapy with NR and Pterostilben can inhibit neurodegeneration in ALS and thereby delay disease development, increase survival and improve quality of life in ALS. In the study, the investigators will use 2 different dosages on the active treatment and strength calculations show that 180 patients are needed to show a rather weak effect. Patients will be recruited in collaboration with hospitals in Helse Vest, AHUS, Drammen, OUS and St. Olavs hospital.

Interventions

Comparison of 2 different dosages with placebo in newly diagnosed ALS patients and comparison of high dose with placebo in earlier ALS patients.

Sponsors

Elysium Health
CollaboratorINDUSTRY
Haukeland University Hospital
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Investigator)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
35 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

Arm 1 (newly diagnosed ALS patients) * Have a clinical diagnosis of probable ALS according to the revised El Escorial criteria. * MR of the brain and cervical spine cannot explain symptoms. * Diagnosed with likely ALS within 6 months from enrolment and treated with Riluzole 50mg x 2 * Symptom onset no longer than 2 year prior to inclusion. * ALS-FRC-R of 36 or more (not any item below 2). * Age equal to or greater than 35 years at time of enrollment Arm 2 (earlier diagnosed ALS patients) * Have a clinical diagnosis of probable ALS according to the revised El Escorial criteria. * MR of the brain and cervical spine cannot explain symptoms. * Treated with Riluzole 50mg x 2.

Exclusion criteria

* Dementia, FTD or other neurodegenerative disorder at baseline visit * Any psychiatric disorder that would interfere with compliance in the study. * Use of high dose vitamin B3 supplementation within 30 days of enrollment * Metabolic, neoplastic, or other physically or mentally debilitating disorder at baseline visit. * Genetically confirmed mitochondrial disease * Patients who become tracheostomized as part of the treatment of ALS * Patients with short expected survival at the discretion of the investigator. Such cases cannot be expected to follow protocol procedures.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Disease progression as assessed by Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale Revised (ALSFRS-R)Change from baseline to 1 yearALSFRS-R is a validated rating instrument for monitoring the progression of disability in patients with ALS. The minimum score is 0 and the maximum score is 48, the higher score the more function is retained.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in vital capacityChange from baseline to 1 yearVital capacity in sitting position and supine by spirometry. Spirometry measures the amount of air that can be inhaled or exhaled and vital capacity is the volume of air breathed out after the deepest inhalation, the higher value the better vital capacity.
Change in cognitive functions as assessed by the Edinburgh Cognitive Scale (ECAS)Change from baseline to 1 yearECAS determines cognitive and behavioural changes of patients suffering from ALS. The minimum score is 0 and the maximum score is 136, the lower the score the greater the deficit.
Change of Neurofilament light chain (NFL) levels in serumChange from baseline to 1 yearNFL levels in serum, baseline values and changes during the study.
Change in quality of life as assessed by the quality of life questionnaire SF-36Change from baseline to 1 yearSF-36 is a 36-item patient-reported survey of patient health. The minimum score is 0 and the maximum score is 100. The higher the score the less disability.

Other

MeasureTime frameDescription
Overall survivalThrough study completion, 1 yearSurvival of patients through the study

Countries

Norway

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026