Combination Therapy With Avonex and BiMonthly High Dose Intravenous Methotrexate in Multiple Sclerosis (MTX01)
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00037102 |
Recruitment Status :
Completed
First Posted : May 17, 2002
Last Update Posted : April 12, 2018
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
---|---|---|
Multiple Sclerosis | Drug: interferon beta 1a Drug: methotrexate | Phase 4 |
The participant will receive weekly intramuscular treatment with AVONEX® (interferon beta 1-a) and bi-monthly high dose intravenous methotrexate with Leucovorin rescue. Entrance into the study will be based on Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite Score (MSFC) evaluations at -4 months, and - 1 month prior to study, where a decrease in score is noted. The composite score consists of the Timed 25-Foot Walk, Nine-Hole Peg Test (9HPT), and Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test 3 (PASAT 3). The patient must have been on AVONEX® for at least 6 months.
At study entrance, baseline lab work (complete blood count, platelet count, routine electrolytes, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, liver function tests, 24 hour urine collection for creatinine clearance, and urine pH), an electrocardiogram (measurement of heart activity) and serum pregnancy test will be done. A complete physical examination will be performed, including measurements of vital signs (heart rate and blood pressure), as well as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to document status of disease. A self-administered questionnaire, the MSQLI (Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life Instrument), will be completed at baseline and at the end of the study. MSFC and safety evaluations (previously mentioned blood and urine tests and electrocardiograms (EKG), will be conducted throughout the study at months 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12. Blood tests of immune cells will also be drawn at these visits. The patient can continue this regimen of treatment at their own discretion and cost, and outside the parameters of this study, if there is apparent efficacy without serious adverse events. This treatment would be under the supervision of Dr. Rowe.
The patients will continue their AVONEX® intramuscular injections of 30 micrograms (administered by patient or caregiver) on a weekly basis with scheduled intravenous high dose methotrexate at 2 Gm/m2 followed by intravenous and oral leucovorin rescue once every 2 months. The methotrexate infusions will be performed in our outpatient infusion center. The patient will be required to complete a patient diary during the course of the trial, participate in and keep all scheduled appointments, and to inform the research staff and physician of any change in concomitant medications or adverse events that they may experience.
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 16 participants |
Allocation: | N/A |
Intervention Model: | Single Group Assignment |
Masking: | None (Open Label) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | An Open Label Study of the Safety and Efficacy of Combination Therapy With AVONEX and Bi-Monthly High Dose Intravenous Methotrexate With Leucovorin Rescue in the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis |
Study Start Date : | July 2001 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | December 2003 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | December 2003 |


Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contacts provided below. For general information, Learn About Clinical Studies.
Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years to 60 Years (Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
To be eligible for entry into this study, candidates must meet the following eligibility criteria at the time of enrollment:
- Between the ages of 18 and 60 years, inclusive.
- Diagnosis of clinically definite relapsing MS.
- Must have been on AVONEX® therapy for at least six months.
- Brain MRI scans demonstrating lesions consistent with MS.
- Subject must have had at least one clinical exacerbation in the last year, and this must have occurred after having been on AVONEX® therapy for at least six to twelve (6-12) months. A clinical exacerbation is defined as a decrease of 0.1 in the MSFC composite or any of the subset domains scores administered 3 months apart.
- Give written informed consent prior to any testing under this protocol, including screening tests and evaluation that are not considered part of the subject's routine care.
To be eligible for treatment with methotrexate, subjects must have evidence for MS disease activity on their baseline screening MRI.

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): NCT00037102
Principal Investigator: | Vernon D ROWE, MD | MidAmerica Research Foundation |
Responsible Party: | Vernon D. Rowe III, MD, MidAmerica Neuroscience Research Foundation at Rowe Neurology Institute |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT00037102 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
MANI-MTX01-001 |
First Posted: | May 17, 2002 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | April 12, 2018 |
Last Verified: | April 2018 |
Multiple Sclerosis Relapsing Methotrexate AVONEX |
interferon beta 1a demyelinating autoimmune |
Multiple Sclerosis Sclerosis Pathologic Processes Demyelinating Autoimmune Diseases, CNS Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System Nervous System Diseases Demyelinating Diseases Autoimmune Diseases Immune System Diseases Interferons Interferon-beta Interferon beta-1a Methotrexate Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal Abortifacient Agents |
Reproductive Control Agents Physiological Effects of Drugs Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic Antimetabolites Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action Antineoplastic Agents Dermatologic Agents Enzyme Inhibitors Folic Acid Antagonists Immunosuppressive Agents Immunologic Factors Antirheumatic Agents Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors Antiviral Agents Anti-Infective Agents |