Safety and Effect of Doxycycline in Patients With Amyloidosis
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01677286 |
Recruitment Status :
Completed
First Posted : September 3, 2012
Results First Posted : June 6, 2017
Last Update Posted : August 1, 2017
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The tetracycline antibiotic doxycycline disrupts A beta amyloid fibrils (AB) in Alzheimer's disease, transthyretin (ATTR) amyloid fibrils in familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy, and immunoglobulin light chain (AL) amyloid fibrils in transgenic mouse models of disease. If untreated, amyloid deposits impair organ function, affecting the morbidity and mortality of patients.
This single-center, twelve-month, open-label, prospective, pilot phase II study aims to determine whether doxycycline reduces amyloid deposits and improves organ function in patients with systemic or localized amyloidosis.
The investigators plan to enroll patients with measurable amyloid disease according to internationally-accepted diagnostic criteria. Patients must have stable organ function at enrollment. Eligible subjects not receiving active treatments for amyloidosis affecting their kidneys, heart, aerodigestive tracts, peripheral or autonomic nervous system(s), lungs, eyes, skin, bladder, or breasts will undergo evaluations at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months - or more frequently as clinically indicated.
Over 45 years experience indicates doxycycline is a safe, well tolerated antibiotic. The investigators will use standard grading systems to assess doxycycline response following twelve months of treatment.
Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Amyloidosis | Drug: Doxycycline 100 mg po bid x 12 months | Phase 2 |
In transgenic animal models of disease, the tetracycline antibiotic doxycycline disrupts A beta amyloid fibrils (AB) in Alzheimer's disease, transthyretin (ATTR) amyloid fibrils in familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy, and immunoglobulin light chain (AL) amyloid fibrils.
The aim of this single-center, 12-month open label, prospective phase II study was to determine a) the safety and tolerability of prolonged full dose doxycycline in patients with amyloidosis, and b) the effect of doxycycline treatment on amyloid-induced organ dysfunction.
We enrolled 25 patients with measurable organ dysfunction caused by amyloid deposition who were not receiving active treatment to control their amyloid production. All 25 subjects received doxycycline 100 mg by both twice daily for up to 12 months depending on their tolerance of the antibiotic. The primary endpoint, defined by the organ most affected by amyloid, was measured at baseline, 6 and 12 months along with safety laboratory values.
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 25 participants |
Allocation: | N/A |
Intervention Model: | Single Group Assignment |
Masking: | None (Open Label) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | A Phase II Study of Doxycycline in Patients With Amyloidosis |
Actual Study Start Date : | July 2012 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | May 22, 2015 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | December 15, 2015 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
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Experimental: doxycycline 100 mg po bid x 12 months
Open-label doxycycline 100 mg twice daily by mouth will be administered to subjects for 12 months.
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Drug: Doxycycline 100 mg po bid x 12 months
100mg by mouth twice daily for 1 year.
Other Name: CAS: 564-25-0; ATC code: J01AA02 A01AB22; PubChem: CID 11256 |
- Amyloid Cardiomyopathy: BNP [ Time Frame: 12 months ]Cardiac biomarkers (BNP, Troponin I) were assessed at baseline, 6 and 12 months, with change at end of study reported
- Amyloid Cardiomyopathy: Troponin I [ Time Frame: 12 months ]Cardiac biomarkers (BNP, Troponin I) were assessed at baseline, 6 and 12 months, with change at change at end of study reported
- Amyloid Nephropathy: Creatinine Clearance [ Time Frame: 12 months ]Creatinine clearance (ml/min) and proteinuria (g/day) were assessed at baseline, 6 and 12 months, with change at change at end of study reported
- Amyloid Nephropathy: Proteinuria [ Time Frame: Data were assessed at baseline, 6 and 12 months, with change at end of study reported ]Patients with predominant amyloid kidney involvement at enrollment.

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Age 18 or older
- Biopsy-proven amyloidosis
- Biochemical or clinical evidence of amyloid induced end-organ dysfunction
Exclusion Criteria:
- Concurrent use of other tetracyclines
- Ongoing active treatment for amyloidosis
- Pregnancy or unwillingness to use contraception by women of childbearing age
- Doxycycline drug allergy/hypersensitivity
- ECOG performance status > 3
- NYHA class > 3
- Renal insufficiency (estimated creatinine clearance < 25 ml/min)
- Transaminitis (AST or ALT > 5 times upper limit of normal)
- Diabetes mellitus or hemoglobin A1C > 6.2%

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): NCT01677286
United States, Massachusetts | |
Boston University | |
Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02118 |
Principal Investigator: | John L Berk, M.D. | Boston University |
Responsible Party: | John L. Berk, Assistant Director, Amyloidosis Center, Boston University |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT01677286 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
H-31546 |
First Posted: | September 3, 2012 Key Record Dates |
Results First Posted: | June 6, 2017 |
Last Update Posted: | August 1, 2017 |
Last Verified: | July 2017 |
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement: | |
Plan to Share IPD: | Undecided |
Plan Description: | Primary manuscript reporting outcomes is in preparation. Once completed, we will consider IPD sharing plan. |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: | Yes |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: | No |
Product Manufactured in and Exported from the U.S.: | Yes |
AL Amyloidosis Primary Amyloidosis Hereditary Amyloidosis Familial Amyloidosis SSA Amyloidosis |
Senile Systemic Amyloidosis AA Amyloidosis Secondary Amyloidosis Localized Amyloidosis Systemic Amyloidosis |
Amyloidosis Proteostasis Deficiencies Metabolic Diseases Doxycycline Anti-Bacterial Agents |
Anti-Infective Agents Antimalarials Antiprotozoal Agents Antiparasitic Agents |