Alzheimer Disease
Conditions
Brief summary
As of today, there is no FDA-approved treatment for agitation in AD. Hence, it is still considered an unmet need. Sporadic observation in healthy or diagnosed individuals indicated that cannabis products, in particular, THC have calming and anti-anxiety effects. These observations are supported by basic science data as well as animal experiments. SCI -110 is a combination of (1) dronabinol, the active ingredient in an FDA-approved synthetic analog of tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive molecule in the cannabis plant, and (2) palmitoylethanolamide. In the present study, the starting daily dose for all subjects is 2.5 mg dronabinol and 800 mg PEA and will be gradually increased (every 3 days an addition of 2.5 mg dronabinol per day, with no change in the PEA dose) to a maximum of 12.5 mg Dronebinol and 800 mg PEA per day. The study product will be given orally, twice daily, to add-on the medical treatment. Study Duration per patient is up to 64 days: a. screening (3-21 days); b. treatment phase: (1) titration (15-23 days) of dronabinol from 2.5 to 12.5 mg or up to the maximal subject's tolerated dose (2) Stabilization phase (10 days) until end of treatment on the highest subject's daily tolerated dose. c. follow-up phase (7 days) - until the end-of-study. During the study, the tolerability of the drug, its safety (vital signs, physical examinations, blood, and urine tests and side effects follow-up) as well as changes in subject's condition (using CMAI, MMSE, SIB-8 questionnaires), appetite and sleep quality (SDI) will be followed.
Interventions
DRUGSCI -110
Dronabinol - Manufactured by Pharmaceutics International, Inc., Hunt Valley, MD 21031, USA. Dronabinol Capsules (dronabinol solution in sesame oil in soft gelatin capsules) are 2.5 mg - cream, oblong, soft-gel capsules. In an NDC 49884-867-02 Bottle of 60 capsules packaged in a well-closed container and stored in a locked refrigerator, 2° to 8°C. Protect from freezing, in accordance with the Israeli legal requirements (Israel Narcotic Drugs Act). Storage conditions should be monitored on a daily basis. PEA - Manufactured by Pharmacies Inc. 767 Front st. Suite 202. Catasauqua, PA 18032 www.pharmacures.com. 1-888-334-3130. 400 mg PEA tablets, in a 60 mL barrier bottle, 30/400 mm, Bottle of 30 capsules packaged in a well-closed container and stored in RT (20° to 25°C). Storage conditions should be monitored on a daily basis.
Sponsors
The Israeli Medical Center for Alzheimer's
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
60 Years to 85 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Male or female aged \>60 to \<85 years inclusive. * Patients diagnosed according to the NINCDS criteria for AD (possible and probable). * MMSE less than 24 at the time of screening. * Patients who in the opinion of the investigators need medication to control agitation or whose current anti-agitation medication is ineffective or poorly tolerated * Patients who have been taking stable dose concomitant medications for at least 1 week. * Only individuals who have a legally appointed guardian who can sign Informed Consent Form (ICF)
Exclusion criteria
* Participant in other clinical trial during the last 30 days. * Any disorder which in the investigator's opinion might jeopardize subject's safety or compliance with the protocol. * Patients whose agitation can be attributed to a somatic disorder (Ex. urinary tract infection or urinary retention) * Patient with uncontrolled congestive heart failure. * Patients who get the following medications: opiates, Primidone, Phenobarbitol, carbamazepine, Rifampicin, Rifabutin, Troglitazone and Hypericum perforatum. * Male patients who in the opinion of the investigator are at risk of urinary retention due to the anticholinergic proprieties of THC * Subjects with known sensitivity to the active substance dronabinol or to any of the components of the drug (sesame oil, gelatin, glycerol, titanium dioxide * Subjects that previously suffered from cannabinoids' related adverse effects. * Subjects with a history of diagnosed Mental or Psychiatric diseases * Patients who in the opinion of the investigator are at risk of falling beyond the risk associated with AD (example: postural hypotension, unstable blood pressure, with or without administration of anti-hypertensive medication, α1 blocker drugs used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia * Patients diagnosed with epilepsy
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| drop-out's | up to 64 days | Number of drop-out subjects' due to poor tolerability |
| Adverse Events | up to 64 days | Number of study treatment (SCI -110) related Adverse Events (AEs) from Baseline (visit 2, day 1) to end of treatment. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE) | up to 64 days | Change from Baseline (visit 2, day 1) to end of treatment in Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE) |
| Change in Sleep Disorders Inventory | up to 64 days | Change in quality of sleep from Baseline (visit 2, day 1) to end of treatment measured in Sleep Disorders Inventory |
| Change in the Cohen Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI). | up to 64 days | Change from Baseline to end of treatment in agitation measured by the Cohen Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI). |
| Change in cognitive measures from Baseline (visit 2, day 1) to end of treatment measured in SIB-8 8-item Severe Impairment Battery | up to 64 days | Change in SIB-8 8-item Severe Impairment Battery |
| Change in The Edinburgh Feeding Evaluation in Dementia Scale | up to 64 days | Change in appetite from Baseline (visit 2, day 1) to end of treatment measured in The Edinburgh Feeding Evaluation in Dementia Scale |
| rescue medication | up to 64 days | Frequency of use of rescue medication to control agitation (Frequency of rescue medication use = number of drug administration(s) regardless of dose |
Countries
Israel
Contacts
Primary ContactYehoshua Klapper
Backup ContactHila Manor
Outcome results
None listed