Safety and Efficacy of Clenbuterol in Individuals With Late-onset Pompe Disease and Receiving Enzyme Replacement Therapy
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01942590 |
Recruitment Status :
Completed
First Posted : September 16, 2013
Results First Posted : October 23, 2017
Last Update Posted : July 2, 2019
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Funding Source- FDA OOPD
The purpose of this study is to investigate the safety and efficacy of clenbuterol on motor function in individuals with late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD) who are treated with enzyme replacement therapy (ERT).
Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Pompe Disease | Drug: Clenbuterol Drug: Placebo | Phase 1 Phase 2 |
This is a 52 week Phase I/II double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study of adjunctive clenbuterol in LOPD (Table 2, Section 6). All subjects will be evaluated at Week 0 and Week 6 to establish a baseline for motor function testing. At Week 6, subjects will be randomized 3:2 to clenbuterol or placebo, and evaluated for safety and efficacy during the Week 12 and 18 visits. The Investigational Drug Service will maintain double-blinding by providing either the study drug or placebo (over-encapsulated tablets) directly to subjects. The drug (or placebo) will be initiated at the Week 6 visit in a staged manner (first once daily and later BID), and the dose will be increased at the Week 12 visit in a similarly staged manner to minimize AEs and related attrition. All subjects will return for a final visit after a total of 52 weeks in the study.
In terms of standard of care, the subject will have two clinical visits (charged to the subject and/or the subject's insurance company), one at the initiation of the study drug (baseline) and one at the study completion (52 weeks). Study drug will be attempted to be initiated during the "off week", approximately one week following a dose of ERT, and ERT will continue throughout the duration of the study. Thereafter, study visits will be during the "off week". The 6, 12, and 18 week visits will be research visits (not charged to the subject and/or the subject's insurance company) in order to determine subject's overall health status and measure early signs of motor improvement. The initial dose of clenbuterol will be 40 mcg per oral each morning for one week, followed by 40 mcg BID for the next 5 weeks until the week 12 visit. If the 40 mcg BID per oral is well tolerated, the dose will be increased to 80 mcg each morning/40 mcg each evening for one week, followed by 80 mcg BID for the next 5 weeks until the Week 18 visit. If 80 mcg BID is tolerated at Week 18, the subject will continue on that dose until Week 52.
Compliance will be discussed at the Week 6, Week 12, and Week 18 visits. The subject will have phone visits during Week 1, 7, 13, 36, and 52, and compliance will be discussed then. We will call subjects daily during the first week following initiation of study drug (Week 7) and dosage escalation (Week 13) to support subjects through the early adverse effects of tachyphylaxis that may lead to premature termination. An interim call will occur during Week 36 to monitor compliance. Subjects who admit non-compliance, missing >6 doses of the study drug, will be considered non-compliant and withdrawn from the study. Subjects will be called during Week 1 and Week 52, 3 days following the muscle biopsy. All phone calls will review AEs (Table).
The efficacy of clenbuterol treatment during ERT in patients with LOPD will be evaluated with muscle and pulmonary function testing as the primary endpoints. A secondary endpoint, the urinary Glc4 biomarker, will be monitored when the subjects are evaluated at baseline, week 18 and week 52. The impact of enhanced CI-MPR-mediated uptake of GAA will be analyzed by comparing the muscle function, pulmonary function, and biochemical correction of muscle in subjects with LOPD treated with ERT, both prior to and during simultaneous β2 agonist therapy.
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 17 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Masking: | Quadruple (Participant, Care Provider, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | A Clinical Investigation of the Safety and Efficacy of Clenbuterol on Motor Function in Individuals With Late-onset Pompe Disease and Receiving Enzyme Replacement Therapy |
Study Start Date : | September 2013 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | September 2, 2016 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | September 2, 2016 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
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Experimental: Clenbuterol
Initially, 40 mcg each morning for one week. Then, increase to 40 mcg BID for the next 5 weeks. If tolerated, will increase to 80 mcg in the morning and 40 mcg in the evening for one week. Then, last dose increase will be 80 mcg BID until week 52.
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Drug: Clenbuterol
Other Name: Spiropent |
Placebo Comparator: Placebo Comparator
Initially, one capsule each morning for one week. Then, increase to one capsule BID for the next 5 weeks. If tolerated, will increase to two capsules in the morning and one capsule in the evening for one week. Then, last dose increase will be two capsules BID until week 52.
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Drug: Placebo
Other Name: Capsule |
- Number of Participants With a Change in Creatine Kinase (CK) Reflecting Worsening of Muscle Involvement [ Time Frame: Any point up to week 52 ]Worsening muscle involvement, as defined by >3x increase in CK from baseline that is >2x the upper limit of normal
- Number of Participants With a Change in Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST), Alanine Transaminase (ALT), and Bilirubin Representing Liver Toxicity [ Time Frame: Any point up to week 52 ]Liver toxicity, as defined by a >3x increase in AST or ALT from the respective baseline values and/or an increase in direct, indirect or total bilirubin of >3x the upper limit of normal
- Change in 6 Minute Walk Test [ Time Frame: Baseline, week 18 ]Assess exercise tolerance in study patients; test administered by physical therapist. Subjects were asked to walk for 6 minutes, unassisted. The distance walked was recorded in meters.
- Change in 6 Minute Walk Test [ Time Frame: Baseline, week 52 ]Assess exercise tolerance in study patients; test administered by physical therapist. Subjects were asked to walk for 6 minutes, unassisted. The distance walked was recorded in meters.
- Change in Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) in Pulmonary Function Testing [ Time Frame: Baseline, Week 18 ]Forced vital capacity (FVC) is the total amount of air exhaled during the lung function test.
- Change in Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) in Pulmonary Function Testing [ Time Frame: Baseline, Week 52 ]Forced vital capacity (FVC) is the total amount of air exhaled during the lung function test.
- Change in Urinary Glc4 Biomarker [ Time Frame: Baseline, Week 18 ]The Glc4 biomarker is measured in urine and correlates with muscle glycogen content. It is a noninvasive measurement that serves as a biomarker for Pompe disease.
- Change in Urinary Glc4 Biomarker [ Time Frame: Baseline, Week 52 ]
- GSGC (Gait, Stairs, Gowers, Arising From a Chair.) [ Time Frame: Baseline, Week 18, and Week 52 ]The GSGC is a criterion referenced assessment designed to measure functional status and change in gross motor function over time and, in particular, to measure clinically relevant change. Consists of 4 components: Gait, Climbing Stairs, Gower's Manuever, Arising From a Chair. Lowest score 4 = normal muscle function, highest score 27 = unable to perform motor function tests.
- Quick Motor Function Test (QMFT) [ Time Frame: Baseline, Week 18, and Week 52 ]The QMFT is a criterion referenced assessment designed to measure functional status and change in gross motor function over time and, in particular, to measure clinically relevant change. Consists of 16 motor function tests. Lowest score 0 = unable to perform motor function tests, highest score 64 = normal muscle function.
- Late-Life Function and Disability Instrument (LLFDI) [ Time Frame: Baseline, Week 18, Week 52 ]The Late-Life Function & Disability Instrument (Late-Life FDI) is an evaluative outcome instrument for community-dwelling older adults. Highest score 240 = normal function and no disability, lowest score 0 = low levels of frequency of participating in life tasks.
- Predicted Maximum Inspiration Pressure (MIP) [ Time Frame: Baseline, Week 18, and Week 52 ]MIP is a measurement of inspiratory muscle weakness, including weakness of the diaphragm. MIP is decreased in Pompe disease and reflects weakness of respiratory muscles.
- Maximum Expiratory Pressure (MEP) [ Time Frame: Baseline, Week 18, and Week 52 ]MEP reflects the strength of the abdominal muscles and other expiratory muscles.

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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:
- Diagnosis of Pompe disease by blood acid alpha-glucosidase assay and acid alpha-glucosidase gene sequencing,
- Age: 18+ years at enrollment,
- Receiving ERT at standard dose (20 mg/kg every 2 weeks) for at least 52 weeks,
- Subjects are capable of giving written consent.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Continuous invasive ventilation (via tracheostomy or endotracheal tube)
- Clinically relevant illness within two weeks of enrollment including fever > 38.2 C, vomiting more than once in 24 hours, seizure, or other symptom deemed contraindicative to new therapy.
- Chronic heart disease (Myocardial infarction, arrythmia, cardiomyopathy)
- Tachycardia
- History of seizure disorder
- Hyperthyroidism
- Pheochromocytoma
- Pregnancy
- History of diabetes
- History of hypersensitivity to beta 2-agonist drugs such as albuterol, levalbuterol (Xopenex), bitolterol (Tornalate), pirbuterol (Maxair), terbutaline, salmeterol (Serevent),
- Patients on a non-standard schedule for ERT; for example, weekly infusions as opposed to infusions every two weeks.
- Treatment for asthma in the previous 12 months.
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The use of the following concommitant meds is prohibited during the study:
- diuretics (water pill);
- digoxin (digitalis, Lanoxin);
- beta-blockers such as atenolol (Tenormin), metoprolol (Lopressor), and propranolol (Inderal);
- tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Etrafon), doxepin (Sinequan), imipramine (Janimine, Tofranil), and nortriptyline (Pamelor);
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate); or
- other bronchodilators such as albuterol, levalbuterol (Xopenex), bitolterol (Tornalate), pirbuterol (Maxair), terbutaline (Brethine, Bricanyl), salmeterol (Serevent), isoetherine (Bronkometer), metaproterenol (Alupent, Metaprel), or isoproterenol (Isuprel Mistometer).

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): NCT01942590
United States, North Carolina | |
Duke University Medical Center | |
Durham, North Carolina, United States, 27710 |
Principal Investigator: | Dwight D Koeberl, MD, PhD | Duke University |
Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):
Responsible Party: | Dwight Koeberl, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor, Duke University |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT01942590 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
Pro00043680 R01FD004364 ( U.S. FDA Grant/Contract ) |
First Posted: | September 16, 2013 Key Record Dates |
Results First Posted: | October 23, 2017 |
Last Update Posted: | July 2, 2019 |
Last Verified: | June 2019 |
Pompe disease |
Glycogen Storage Disease Type II Lysosomal Storage Diseases, Nervous System Brain Diseases, Metabolic, Inborn Brain Diseases, Metabolic Brain Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Nervous System Diseases Metabolism, Inborn Errors Genetic Diseases, Inborn Glycogen Storage Disease Carbohydrate Metabolism, Inborn Errors Lysosomal Storage Diseases Metabolic Diseases |
Clenbuterol Adrenergic beta-Agonists Adrenergic Agonists Adrenergic Agents Neurotransmitter Agents Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action Physiological Effects of Drugs Bronchodilator Agents Autonomic Agents Peripheral Nervous System Agents Anti-Asthmatic Agents Respiratory System Agents Sympathomimetics |