Study of Safety, Tolerability & Efficacy of CK-2017357 in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01709149 |
Recruitment Status :
Completed
First Posted : October 18, 2012
Results First Posted : March 31, 2020
Last Update Posted : March 31, 2020
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
---|---|---|
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis | Drug: CK-2017357 Other: Placebo tablets Drug: Riluzole | Phase 2 |
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 711 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Masking: | Quadruple (Participant, Care Provider, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | A Phase IIb, Multi-National, Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability and Efficacy of CK-2017357 in Patients With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) (BENEFIT-ALS) |
Study Start Date : | October 2012 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | March 2014 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | March 2014 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
---|---|
Experimental: CK-2017357
125 mg tablets
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Drug: CK-2017357
CK-2017357 125 mg tablets twice daily
Other Name: tirasemtiv Drug: Riluzole Tablets
Other Name: Rilutek |
Placebo Comparator: Placebo
Placebo tablets
|
Other: Placebo tablets
Tablets Drug: Riluzole Tablets
Other Name: Rilutek |
- The Change From Baseline in ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R) Total Score to the Average of Values Obtained at the End of Weeks 8 and 12 of Double-blind Treatment [ Time Frame: Baseline, 8 weeks, 12 weeks ]The ALSFRS-R is used to measure the progression and severity of disease; it consists of 12 questions, assessing a patient's capability and independence in functional activities relevant to ALS, categorized in 4 domains: gross motor tasks, fine motor tasks, bulbar functions, and respiratory function. Each question is scored from 0 (indicating incapable or dependent) to 4 (normal). The total score ranges from 0 to 48, with higher scores reflecting more normal function and lower scores reflecting more impaired function.
- Change From Baseline in Maximum Voluntary Ventilation (MVV) to the Average of Values Obtained at the End of Weeks 8 and 12 of Double-blind Treatment [ Time Frame: Baseline, 8 weeks, 12 weeks ]MVV was measured as the volume (in liters) of air that could be exhaled during 12 seconds of rapid deep breathing; for analysis purposes, the measured volume was extrapolated to 1 minute (to give units of L/min).
- Change From Baseline in Sniff Nasal Inspiratory Pressure (SNIP) to the Average of Values Obtained at the End of Weeks 8 and 12 of Double-blind Treatment [ Time Frame: Baseline, 8 weeks, 12 weeks ]SNIP was measured at functional residual capacity, the bottom of the tidal breathing cycle, through 1 plugged nostril while the other remained open. Inspiratory pressure is a negative number where a larger negative number represents . . . A forceful, maximal inspiratory sniff was performed and a peak pressure value reported. The best result (ie, the highest number) from 5 tests was recorded as the SNIP.
- Change From Baseline in Slow Vital Capacity (SVC) to the Average of Values Obtained at the End of Weeks 8 and 12 of Double-blind Treatment [ Time Frame: Baseline, 8 weeks, 12 weeks ]SVC was measured using a spirometer (in units of liters). Following 3 to 5 breaths at rest, the patients were instructed to take as deep an inspiration as possible followed by a maximum exhalation (blowing out all the air in their lungs). Values obtained were converted to % predicted values (ie, the test result as a percent of predicted values for the patients of similar demographic and baseline characteristics [eg, height, age, sex]).
- Change From Baseline in Maximum Handgrip Strength in the Weaker Hand to the Average of Values Obtained at the End of Weeks 8 and 12 of Double-blind Treatment [ Time Frame: Baseline, 8 weeks, 12 weeks ]Maximum handgrip strength was measured using an electronic hand dynamometer; patients were asked to squeeze the device with the maximum possible force.
- Change From Baseline in Handgrip Fatigability (at 60% of Target in the Weaker Hand) to the Average of Values Obtained at the End of Weeks 8 and 12 of Double-blind Treatment [ Time Frame: Baseline, 8 weeks, 12 weeks ]Handgrip fatigability was measured immediately following determination of maximum handgrip strength (via an electronic hand dynamometer). Once maximum handgrip strength was achieved, the force of the grip was timed for 2 minutes or until the grip strength had dropped to 60% of the maximum, whichever came first.
- Change From Baseline in Muscle Strength Mega-Score Based on Percent Change in Muscle Strength Measurements to the Average at the End of Weeks 8 and 12 of Double-blind Treatment [ Time Frame: Baseline, 8 weeks, 12 weeks ]A hand-held dynamometer (HHD), with a scale of 0 to 300 pounds, was used to measure muscle strength and handgrip strength (bilateral); the muscle groups tested were: elbow flexion (bilateral), wrist extension (bilateral), knee extension (bilateral), and ankle dorsiflexion (bilateral). For each assessment time point, the percent change from baseline was calculated for each muscle group and handgrip strength. The muscle strength mega-score was calculated as the average of the changes (ie, percent change from baseline) observed for each muscle groups as well as handgrip strength. For this endpoint, negative values indicate a decline in muscle strength.

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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:
- Able to comprehend and willing to sign an Informed Consent Form (ICF)
- Male or female 18 years of age or older
- A diagnosis of familial or sporadic ALS (defined as meeting the possible, laboratory-supported probable, probable, or definite criteria for a diagnosis of ALS according to the World Federation of Neurology El Escorial criteria)
- Upright Slow Vital Capacity (SVC) >50 % of predicted for age, height and sex
- At least 4 of the 12 ALSFRS-R questions must be scored 2 or 3
- Diminished but measurable maximum voluntary grip strength in at least one hand; i.e., between 10 and 50 pounds (females) and 10 and 70 pounds (males)
- Able to swallow tablets without crushing
- A caregiver (if one is needed) who can and will observe and report the patient's status
- Pre-study clinical laboratory findings within normal range or, if outside of the normal range, deemed not clinically significant by the Investigator
- Male patients must agree for the duration of the study and 10 weeks after the end of the study to use a condom during sexual intercourse with female partners who are of reproductive potential and to have female partners use an additional effective means of contraception (e.g., diaphragm plus spermicide, or oral contraceptives) or the male patient must agree to abstain from sexual intercourse during and for 10 weeks after the end of the study
- Female patients must be post-menopausal (≥ 1 year) or sterilized, or, if of childbearing potential, not be breastfeeding, have a negative pregnancy test, have no intention to become pregnant during the course of the study, and use contraceptive drugs or devices as detailed in item 10 for the duration of the study and for 10 weeks after the end of the study
- Patients must be either on a stable dose of riluzole 50 mg twice daily for at least 30 days prior to screening or have not taken riluzole for at least 30 days prior to screening and are willing not to begin riluzole use during the conduct of this study.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Any use of non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV, e.g. continuous positive airway pressure [CPAP] or bilevel positive airway pressure [BiPAP]) for any portion of the day, or mechanical ventilation via tracheostomy, or on any form of oxygen supplementation
- Patients with a diaphragm pacing system (DPS) at study entry or who anticipate DPS placement during the course of the study
- Body Mass Index (BMI) of 19.0 kg/m2 or lower
- Unwilling to discontinue tizanidine and theophylline-containing medications during study participation
- Serum chloride < 100 mmol/L
- Neurological impairment due to a condition other than ALS, including history of transient ischemic attack (TIA) within the past year
- Presence at screening of any medically significant cardiac, pulmonary, gastrointestinal (GI), musculoskeletal, or psychiatric illness that might interfere with the patient's ability to comply with study procedures or that might confound the interpretation of clinical safety or efficacy data
- Has taken any investigational study drug within 30 days or 5 half-lives of the prior agent, whichever is greater, prior to dosing
- Previously received CK-2017357 in any previous clinical trial

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): NCT01709149

Study Director: | Jinsy Andrews, MD | Cytokinetics, Inc. | |
Study Chair: | Jeremy Shefner, MD, PhD | State University of New York - Upstate Medical University | |
Principal Investigator: | Jeremy Shefner, MD, PhD | State University of New York - Upstate Medical University |
Responsible Party: | Cytokinetics |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT01709149 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
CY 4026 |
First Posted: | October 18, 2012 Key Record Dates |
Results First Posted: | March 31, 2020 |
Last Update Posted: | March 31, 2020 |
Last Verified: | March 2020 |
Motor Neuron Disease Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Sclerosis Pathologic Processes Neurodegenerative Diseases Nervous System Diseases Neuromuscular Diseases Spinal Cord Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases TDP-43 Proteinopathies Proteostasis Deficiencies |
Metabolic Diseases Riluzole Anticonvulsants Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists Excitatory Amino Acid Agents Neurotransmitter Agents Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action Physiological Effects of Drugs Neuroprotective Agents Protective Agents |