Trial of Minocycline to Treat Children With Fragile X Syndrome
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01053156 |
Recruitment Status :
Completed
First Posted : January 21, 2010
Results First Posted : July 30, 2014
Last Update Posted : May 30, 2017
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Fragile X Syndrome | Drug: minocycline hydrochloride Drug: Placebo | Not Applicable |
This is a single center study at the UC Davis MIND Institute in patients age 3.5-16 years of age with fragile X syndrome (FXS), funded by a National Fragile X Foundation Grant. It is a controlled trial of minocycline, an antibiotic commonly used in children for infection or for treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. We are investigating its use in FXS because it lowers matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) levels, which are high in FXS, and it also strengthens brain connections in the animal models of FXS. We hypothesize that minocycline will likely be helpful for language, behavior and/or cognition in fragile X patients.
The aim of this study is to carry out a double-blind placebo controlled trial of minocycline treatment in children with FXS who are 3.5 to 16 years of age. At baseline, we will assess behavior and perceptual and cognitive development. After the children have been treated for 3 months with either minocycline or placebo, they undergo the same baseline testing. They will then cross over and be treated for a second 3 months. We will carry out testing again at the end of the second 3 month period. We will also assess the side effects of minocycline treatment throughout the study.
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 66 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Crossover Assignment |
Masking: | Triple (Participant, Care Provider, Investigator) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | Randomized Double-Blind Controlled Cross Over Trial of Minocycline in Children With Fragile X Syndrome |
Study Start Date : | January 2010 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | December 2011 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | December 2011 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
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Placebo Comparator: Placebo pill
All patients will be on placebo for 3 months in this crossover study.
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Drug: Placebo
Placebo will be given daily for 3 months. |
Experimental: Minocycline
All patients will be on minocycline for 3 months in this crossover trial.
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Drug: minocycline hydrochloride
Minocycline hydrochloride dosed orally once a day for 3 months. |
- Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI) [ Time Frame: 3 months (post first treatment) and 6 months (post second treatment) ]The CGI-I utilizes history from primary caregivers and incorporates it into a seven step clinical rating for follow up throughout treatment, from 1 "very much improved" to 7 "very much worse". Lower scores indicate more improvement. Scores were obtained post treatments. Scores from when the patients were on minocycline either first or second were combined and averaged to determine a least squares mean and placebo scores were obtained in the same manner.
- Visual Analogue Scale- Behavior 1 [ Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months ]A VAS is used to represent a caregiver's assessment of given behaviors, which were chosen by the parents. Caregivers marked a 10 cm horizontal line representing a visual continuum of each behavior from "worst behavior" to "behavior not a problem." Greater values indicate greater improvement. This measure represents the first behavior that the caregivers noted, out of three.
- Visual Analogue Scale- Behaviors 2 [ Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months ]A VAS is used to represent a caregiver's assessment of given behaviors, which were chosen by the parents. Caregivers marked a 10 cm horizontal line representing a visual continuum of each behavior from "worst behavior" to "behavior not a problem." Greater values indicate greater improvement. This measure represents the second behavior that the caregivers noted, out of three.
- Expressive Vocabulary Test-2 [ Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months and 6 months ]The EVT-2 standard score assesses language development through a participant's one word synonym response to visual stimuli. Standard scores range from 20-160. A standard score of 100 is average, with a 15 point standard deviation. Higher values represent a better outcome.
- Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale-II (VABS-II)Adaptive Behavior Composite Score [ Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months, and 6 months ]The VABS-II Adaptive Behavior Composite Score was used to assess adaptive skills. An Adaptive Behavior Composite Score may range from 20-160 with an average of 100 with a standard deviation of 15. Higher scores show improvement.
- Aberrant Behavior Checklist-Community Edition (ABC-C)Composite Score [ Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months, and 6 months ]The ABC-C composite scores were used to quantify the severity of a patient's behaviors. A composite score consists of subscale scores including Irritability and Agitation, Lethargy and Social Withdrawal, Stereotypic Behavior, Hyperactivity and Noncompliance, and Inappropriate Speech. The composite score may range from 0-174. Lower scores indicate improvement.
- Visual Analogue Scale Behavior 3- VAS3 [ Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months ]A VAS is used to represent a caregiver's assessment of given behaviors, which were chosen by the parents. Caregivers marked a 10 cm horizontal line representing a visual continuum of each behavior from "worst behavior" to "behavior not a problem." Greater values indicate greater improvement. This measure represents the third behavior that caregivers noted, out of three.
- VAS Categorized by Behavior: Aggression/ ADHD [ Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months ]A VAS is used to represent a caregiver's assessment of given behaviors, which were chosen by the parents. Caregivers marked a 10 cm horizontal line representing a visual continuum of each behavior from "worst behavior" to "behavior not a problem." Greater values indicate greater improvement. This measure represents the least squares mean of all behaviors having to do with aggression or ADHD behaviors.
- VAS Categorized by Behavior:Anxiety/ Mood [ Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months ]A VAS is used to represent a caregiver's assessment of given behaviors, which were chosen by the parents. Caregivers marked a 10 cm horizontal line representing a visual continuum of each behavior from "worst behavior" to "behavior not a problem." Greater values indicate greater improvement. This measure represents the least squares mean of all behaviors having to do with anxiety or mood related behaviors.
- VAS Categorized by Behavior:Language/ Cognition [ Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months ]A VAS is used to represent a caregiver's assessment of given behaviors, which were chosen by the parents. Caregivers marked a 10 cm horizontal line representing a visual continuum of each behavior from "worst behavior" to "behavior not a problem." Greater values indicate greater improvement. This measure represents the least squares mean of all behaviors having to do with language or cognitive symptoms.
- VAS Categorized by Behavior: Other [ Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months ]A VAS is used to represent a caregiver's assessment of given behaviors, which were chosen by the parents. Caregivers marked a 10 cm horizontal line representing a visual continuum of each behavior from "worst behavior" to "behavior not a problem." Greater values indicate greater improvement. This measure represents the least squares mean of all behaviors having to do with other behaviors that were not able to be categorized.

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 42 Months to 16 Years (Child) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Must have fragile X syndrome with molecular documentation
- Current pharmacological treatment regimen has been stable for at least 4 weeks
Exclusion Criteria:
- Subjects who plan to initiate or change pharmacologic or non-pharmacologic interventions during the course of the study
- subjects who are unable to take oral medication
- subjects who have been on minocycline previously
- subjects who are allergic to minocycline or tetracyclines
- subjects who are pregnant
- subjects with history of lupus or hepatic dysfunction

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT01053156
United States, California | |
M.I.N.D. Institute at University of California at Davis Medical Center | |
Sacramento, California, United States, 95817 |
Principal Investigator: | Randi J Hagerman, MD | M.I.N.D. Institute at University of California at Davis, Sacramento CA |
Responsible Party: | University of California, Davis |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT01053156 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
200917522 |
First Posted: | January 21, 2010 Key Record Dates |
Results First Posted: | July 30, 2014 |
Last Update Posted: | May 30, 2017 |
Last Verified: | May 2017 |
Fragile X syndrome minocycline targeted treatment |
Fragile X Syndrome Syndrome Disease Pathologic Processes Mental Retardation, X-Linked Intellectual Disability Neurobehavioral Manifestations Neurologic Manifestations Nervous System Diseases |
Sex Chromosome Disorders Chromosome Disorders Congenital Abnormalities Genetic Diseases, Inborn Genetic Diseases, X-Linked Heredodegenerative Disorders, Nervous System Minocycline Anti-Bacterial Agents Anti-Infective Agents |