Safety and Efficacy of Cannabis in Tourette Syndrome

• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03247244
• Recruitment Status: Terminated
• First Posted: August 11, 2017
• Last Update Posted: January 25, 2021
• Sponsor: University Health Network, Toronto
• Information provided by (Responsible Party): University Health Network, Toronto

Study Description

Brief Summary:

For many individuals with Tourette syndrome (TS), available medications do not help with their symptoms, or cause significant side effects. Two small controlled trials have investigated the effect of oral delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a principal psychoactive ingredient of cannabis, in TS patients. While these trials have shown promising results, the effect sizes were not as large and consistent as those reported by patients with regards to inhaled cannabis (smoked or vaporized). Indeed, based on anecdotal evidence, patients have much greater improvement in their symptoms using inhaled cannabis than using cannabinoid pharmaceuticals. However, there have been no controlled trials of inhaled medical cannabis for TS to date. Furthermore, various medical cannabis products are authorized in Canada with different contents of THC and cannabidiol (CBD), another primary cannabinoid. No data exists regarding the dosing, efficacy and safety of these products in the treatment of TS. To gather such data, a double-blind, randomized, crossover pilot trial will be conducted to compare the efficacy and safety of three vaporized medical cannabis products with different THC and CBD contents, as well as placebo, in adults with TS. As well, the PK/PD profile of THC and CBD of the products will be assessed and correlated with tic symptoms

Condition or disease	Intervention/treatment	Phase
Tourette Syndrome	Drug: Cannabis	Phase 2

Study Design

• Study Type: Interventional (Clinical Trial)
• Actual Enrollment: 15 participants
• Allocation: Randomized
• Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
• Intervention Model Description: There are four treatment schemes. All subjects will be randomized in a 1:1:1:1 ratio to one of the four treatment schemes. Participants will receive a single dose of each of the 3 cannabis products + placebo, with the order determine by their assigned treatment arm.
• Masking: Triple (Participant, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
• Masking Description: The participants, investigators and analysts will be masked as to the treatment arm and product of each participant and visit. Only the pharmacists will be aware of the strain.
• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Official Title: A Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo-controlled Crossover Pilot Trial of Medical Cannabis in Adults With Tourette Syndrome
• Actual Study Start Date: January 15, 2018
• Actual Primary Completion Date: June 6, 2019
• Actual Study Completion Date: January 27, 2020

Arms and Interventions

Arm	Intervention/treatment
1; Three cannabis drug product formulations with different THC and CBD contents and placebo will be used in the following order: A (THC 10%, CBD <0.5%), B (THC 8.6%, CBD 8.6%), C (THC 0.6%, CBD 14%) and placebo D (THC <0.3%, CBD <0.3%).	Drug: Cannabis; THC 10%, CBD <0.5%; Other Name: Marijuana; Drug: Cannabis; THC 8.6%, CBD 8.6%; Other Name: Marijuana; Drug: Cannabis; THC 0.6%, CBD 14%; Other Name: Marijuana
2; Three cannabis drug product formulations with different THC and CBD contents and placebo will be used in the following order: B (THC 8.6%, CBD 8.6%), placebo D (THC <0.3%, CBD <0.3%), A (THC 10%, CBD <0.5%), C (THC 0.6%, CBD 14%).	Drug: Cannabis; THC 10%, CBD <0.5%; Other Name: Marijuana; Drug: Cannabis; THC 8.6%, CBD 8.6%; Other Name: Marijuana; Drug: Cannabis; THC 0.6%, CBD 14%; Other Name: Marijuana
3; Three cannabis drug product formulations with different THC and CBD contents and placebo will be used in the following order: C (THC 0.6%, CBD 14%), A (THC 10%, CBD <0.5%), placebo D (THC <0.3%, CBD <0.3%), B (THC 8.6%, CBD 8.6%).	Drug: Cannabis; THC 10%, CBD <0.5%; Other Name: Marijuana; Drug: Cannabis; THC 8.6%, CBD 8.6%; Other Name: Marijuana; Drug: Cannabis; THC 0.6%, CBD 14%; Other Name: Marijuana
4; Three cannabis drug product formulations with different THC and CBD contents and placebo will be used in the following order: placebo D (THC <0.3%, CBD <0.3%), C (THC 0.6%, CBD 14%), B (THC 8.6%, CBD 8.6%), A (THC 10%, CBD <0.5%).	Drug: Cannabis; THC 10%, CBD <0.5%; Other Name: Marijuana; Drug: Cannabis; THC 8.6%, CBD 8.6%; Other Name: Marijuana; Drug: Cannabis; THC 0.6%, CBD 14%; Other Name: Marijuana

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures :

1. Modified Rush Video-Based Tic Rating Scale [ Time Frame: 10 minutes ]
   Can be used to assess changes in frequency and severity of tics

Secondary Outcome Measures :

1. The Marijuana Effect Expectancy Questionnaire (MEEQ) [ Time Frame: 6 hours ]
   To assess tolerability of cannabis products

Other Outcome Measures:

1. Area under the plasma concentration versus time curve of CBD and 11-OH-THC [ Time Frame: 6 hours ]
   Determine a temporal relationship between changes in THC/CBD plasma concentrations and tic severity
2. Premonitory Urge for Tics Scale (PUTS) [ Time Frame: 1 hour ]
   Assesses the intensity of premonitory urges
3. Clinical Global Impression- Improvement Scale (CGI-I) [ Time Frame: 1 hour ]
   Assesses how improved symptoms are after an intervention

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 Years to 65 Years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Sexes Eligible for Study: All
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male or female adult, 18-65 years of age (inclusive) at the time of signing the informed consent.
• The subject meets current DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for TS[6], diagnosed by a neuropsychiatrist with expertise in TS and related conditions.
• YGTSS-TTS ≥16, frequency subscore = 5 and intensity subscore ≥ 2. In addition, tic free intervals do not last more than two minutes based on both self-reporting and observation by clinician at both screening and Week 0 (randomization). This requirement is for the purpose of minimizing the potential for floor effects given the relatively short window for assessing effect on symptoms in this single-dose trial.
• The subject is able and willing to refrain from using any non-study cannabis during the screening and treatment phases of the study.
• Females of childbearing potential (defined by menarche and not having undergone surgical sterilization/hysterectomy) must have a negative pregnancy test, must be practicing acceptable double-barrier methods of contraception (or can confirm abstinence at each scheduled visit), and must not be breast feeding.
• Written informed consent must be obtained from the subject prior to the initiation of any protocol-required procedures.
• The subject is able to comprehend and satisfactorily comply with the protocol requirements.

Exclusion Criteria:

• • The subject and/or his/her family have a history of psychosis, schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.

  • Sexually active females of childbearing potential who will not commit to utilizing 2 of the approved birth control methods or who will not remain abstinent during the trial; Females who are breast-feeding and/or who have a positive serum pregnancy test result prior at the time of screening.
  • The subject represents a significant risk of committing suicide (current suicide plan or attempt in past 2 years) or committing homicide.
  • The subject has a history of serious head injury, seizure disorder, or developmental delay (intelligence quotient≤85).
  • The subject has either of: cardiovascular disease; respiratory disease such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or lung cancer (asthma is not an exclusionary criterion); hepatitis.
  • The subject has a current or past history of substance abuse within the last 5 years, with the exception of cannabis.
  • The subject is using cannabis regularly for the treatment of TS.
  • The subject has any abnormal laboratory tests and vital sign results which in the investigator's judgment is medically significant and would impact the safety of the subject or the interpretation of the study results.

Contacts and Locations

Locations

Canada, Ontario

Toronto Western Hospital - Tourette Syndrome Neurodevelopmental Clinic

Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5T2S8

Sponsors and Collaborators

University Health Network, Toronto

Investigators

• Principal Investigator: Paul Sandor, MD; University Health Network, Toronto

More Information

Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):

Abi-Jaoude E, Bhikram T, Parveen F, Levenbach J, Lafreniere-Roula M, Sandor P. A Double-Blind, Randomized, Controlled Crossover Trial of Cannabis in Adults with Tourette Syndrome. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res. 2022 Aug 30. doi: 10.1089/can.2022.0091. Online ahead of print.

• Responsible Party: University Health Network, Toronto
• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03247244
• Other Study ID Numbers: 14-7726
• First Posted: August 11, 2017
• Last Update Posted: January 25, 2021
• Last Verified: January 2021

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: No
• Product Manufactured in and Exported from the U.S.: No

Keywords provided by University Health Network, Toronto:

Cannabis; Tics; Tourette Syndrome

Additional relevant MeSH terms:

Tourette Syndrome; Syndrome; Marijuana Abuse; Disease; Pathologic Processes; Substance-Related Disorders; Chemically-Induced Disorders; Mental Disorders; Basal Ganglia Diseases; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Tic Disorders; Movement Disorders; Heredodegenerative Disorders, Nervous System; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Genetic Diseases, Inborn; Neurodevelopmental Disorders