Blood-Brain-Barrier Opening Using Focused Ultrasound With IV Contrast Agents in Patients With Early Alzheimer's Disease (BBB-Alzheimers)

• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02986932
• Recruitment Status: Completed
• First Posted: December 8, 2016
• Last Update Posted: June 14, 2018
• Sponsor: InSightec
• Information provided by (Responsible Party): InSightec

Study Description

Brief Summary:

This is a prospective, non-randomized, single-arm, feasibility study to evaluate the safety and initial effectiveness of opening of the Blood-Brain Barrier with intravenous contrast agents using the ExAblate Neuro System in patients with early stage Alzheimer's Disease.

Condition or disease	Intervention/treatment	Phase
Alzheimer Disease	Device: BBB opening	Not Applicable

Detailed Description:

This study is a prospective, single-arm, non-randomized, feasibility, phase I trial to evaluate the safety of focal BBB opening using the ExAblate® Transcranial (220 kHz) system and Definity® ultrasound contrast in 6 patients with mild Alzheimer's Disease. This phase I trial will be divided into two stages. In the first stage, patients will undergo small volume BBB opening, establishing the minimum required sonication parameters to open the BBB, as evidenced by gadolinium enhancement on T1-weighted MRI. Stage I is defined as a discrete region of approximately 9 mm x 9 mm area in the right frontal lobe. Multiple sonications will be performed starting at low energy and ramping up until the BBB is observed to open. The subjects will then be removed from the ExAblate® Neuro device and followed for safety for 30 days. If the subject experienced BBB opening without any serious adverse effects (such as brain edema), then the subject may proceed to Stage two where a larger volume (2.5-3.0 cm) will be targeted. Subjects will be followed for an additional 60 days for safety and preliminary effectiveness.

Study Design

• Study Type: Interventional (Clinical Trial)
• Actual Enrollment: 6 participants
• Allocation: N/A
• Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
• Intervention Model Description: Transcranial ExAblate
• Masking: None (Open Label)
• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Official Title: A Study to Evaluate the Safety and Feasibility of Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) Opening Using Transcranial MR-Guided Focused Ultrasound With Intravenous Ultrasound Contrast Agents in Patients With Early Alzheimer's Disease
• Study Start Date: December 2016
• Actual Primary Completion Date: December 2017
• Actual Study Completion Date: December 2017

Arms and Interventions

Arm	Intervention/treatment
Experimental: BBB opening; ExAblate focused ultrasound under MRI-guidance delivered through the intact human skull in conjunction with timed intravenous ultrasound contrast agents (Definity®) to temporarily and focally open the BBB.	Device: BBB opening; Open BBB using ExAblate focused ultrasound and (Definity®) contrast agent

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures :

1. Change in contrast enhancement (intensity) following BBB disruption [ Time Frame: Immediately post treatment ]
   Change in contrast enhancement (intensity) following BBB disruption to pre-sonication images as a comparative ratio measured in percent as read from MR images and normalized to the contralateral hemisphere

Secondary Outcome Measures :

1. Change in amyloid uptake [ Time Frame: 30 days after treatments ]
   Change in amyloid uptake as compared to pre treatment scans in the targeted region
2. Adverse events [ Time Frame: 90 days ]
   Number of participants with treatment-related adverse events as assessed by CTCAE v4.0
3. MMSE - Mini Mental State Examination [ Time Frame: 30 days ]
   Treatment effect on patients' dementia state
4. ADAS-Cog - Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale - Cognitive Behavior subscales [ Time Frame: 30 days ]
   Treatment effect on patients' Alzheimer's disease symptoms
5. NPI - Neuropsychiatry Inventory [ Time Frame: 30 days ]
   Treatment effect on patients' dementia
6. GDS - Geriatric Depression Scale [ Time Frame: 30 days ]
   Treatment effect on patients' depression
7. ADCS-ADL - Alzheimer's Disease Co-operative Study - Activities of Daily Living Inventory [ Time Frame: 30 days ]
   Treatment effect on patients' activities of daily living

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 55 Years to 85 Years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Sexes Eligible for Study: All
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Probable AD consistent with NIA/AA criteria (McKhann, Alzheimer & Dementia 2011)
2. Modified Hachinski Ischemia Scale (MHIS) score of <= 4.
3. Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE) scores 18-28
4. Short form Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) score of <= 6
5. Has a Florbetaben PET scan consistent with the presence of amyloid pathology in the proposed target region (right frontal lobe)
6. Able to communicate sensations during the ExAblate® MRgFUS procedure.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. MRI findings:

   • Active infection/inflammation
   • Acute or chronic hemorrhages, specifically > 4 lobar microbleeds, and no siderosis or macrohemorrhages
   • Tumor/space occupying lesion
   • Meningeal enhancement
2. More than 30% of the skull area traversed by the sonication pathway is covered by scars, scalp disorders (e.g., eczema), or atrophy of the scalp
3. Clips or other metallic implanted objects in the skull or the brain, except shunts; other metallic objects implanted in body
4. Significant cardiac disease or unstable hemodynamic status including:
5. Uncontrolled hypertension on medication or abnormal ECG
6. Medications known to increase risk of hemorrhage, (e.g.: patients should be off of aspirin or another anticoagulants for at least 7 days prior to treatment) or anticoagulants (class I and III) or off Avastin for 30 days
7. History of a bleeding disorder, coagulopathy or a history of spontaneous hemorrhage or use of anticoagulants
8. Abnormal coagulation profile (PLT < 100,00/μl), PT (>14 sec) or PTT (>36 sec), and INR > 1.3
9. No more than 1 non-strategic lacune <1.5 cm
10. Known cerebral or systemic vasculopathy
11. Significant depression and at potential risk of suicide
12. Known sensitivity/allergy to gadolinium (an alternative product may be used), Definity or any of its components.
13. Any contraindications to MRI scanning such as metallic implants, claustrophibia or too large for MRI scanner
14. Untreated, uncontrolled sleep apnea
15. Impaired renal function with estimated glomerular filtration rate <30 mL/min/1.73m2
16. Does not have a reliable caregiver in frequent contact with the patient and can accompany the patient to the clinic and treatment or be available by telephone at designated times. Participants living in retirement homes may be included. Caregiver not willing to sign the Informed Consent Form
17. Respiratory: chronic pulmonary disorders e.g. severe emphysema, pulmonary vasculitis, or other causes of reduced pulmonary vascular cross-sectional area, patients with a history of drug allergies, asthma or hay fever, and multiple allergies where the benefit/risk of administering Definity® is considered unfavorable by the study physicians in relation to the product monograph for Definity.
18. Currently in a clinical teial involving investigational product.

Contacts and Locations

Locations

Canada, Ontario

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4N 3M5

Sponsors and Collaborators

InSightec

Investigators

• Principal Investigator: Nir Lipsman, MD, PhD; Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

More Information

• Responsible Party: InSightec
• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02986932
• Other Study ID Numbers: AL001
• First Posted: December 8, 2016
• Last Update Posted: June 14, 2018
• Last Verified: June 2018

Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement:

• Plan to Share IPD: No

Keywords provided by InSightec:

Blood-Brain Barrier

Additional relevant MeSH terms:

Alzheimer Disease; Dementia; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Tauopathies; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Neurocognitive Disorders; Mental Disorders