Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Phase 1 Interventional Ages 18 to 99

Acamprosate for ALS with C9orf72 mutation

Official title: Acamprosate in C9orf72 Hexanucleotide Repeat Expansion Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ACALS)

Run by National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC) · NCT07204977 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study tests whether acamprosate can be safely used to see if it helps people with ALS who carry a C9orf72 mutation.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 1
Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years to 99 Years
SexAll
Enrollment30 (estimated)
SponsorNational Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)
NIH
Locations1 site (Bethesda, Maryland)
StatusRecruiting
StartedFebruary 2, 2026
Main results expectedSeptember 30, 2027
Study endsSeptember 30, 2028
Registry record updatedOctober 1, 2026
Trial IDNCT07204977 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Adults 18 years or older with ALS and a pathogenic C9orf72 repeat expansion.

Probably not a fit

Patients without the C9orf72 mutation or those who do not tolerate acamprosate may not benefit.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This Phase 1 interventional trial will assess the safety and potential clinical effects of acamprosate in adults with ALS and a pathogenic C9orf72 hexanucleotide repeat expansion. Participants will complete 13 visits over 32 weeks, including clinic and phone visits, with baseline exams, imaging, respiratory testing, and neuropsychological assessments. The study will monitor adverse events and changes in ALSFRS-R to explore potential disease-modifying signals while collecting laboratory and neuroimaging data for exploratory analyses.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, acamprosate could offer a new treatment option that might slow disease progression or improve function in this genetic subset of ALS.

How similar studies have gone: Gaps exist in ALS with C9orf72-specific trials; this study adapts a repurposed drug approach with some preclinical signals.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
* INCLUSION CRITERIA:

In order to be eligible to participate in this study, an individual must meet all of the following inclusion criteria:

1. Aged 18 years or older at the time of the screening visit.
2. Able to provide informed consent and comply with study procedures and availability for the duration of the study. If a participant lacks capacity to give consent, a Legally Authorized Representative (LAR) will be authorized to give consent on behalf of the individual.
3. Diagnosis of ALS (possible, probable, or definite according to the World Federation of Neurology El Escorial revised criteria or the Gold Coast Criteria) with or without mild cognitive impairment, mild behavioral impairment, or frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
4. CLIA-certified genetic testing showing a pathogenic hexanucleotide repeat expansion in the C9orf72 gene.
5. Symptom duration less than 2 years, or if greater than 2 years, disease progression at a rate that, in the judgement of the investigator, would allow for completion of the study.
6. If taking riluzole, edaravone, or phenylbutyrate/TUDCA, the participant must be on a stable dose for at least 30 days prior to the screening visit, or have stopped taking riluzole, edaravone, or phenylbutyrate/TUDCA at least 30 days prior to the baseline visit.
7. Participant must be competent to self-administer the medication as deemed by study team. Alternatively, participant must have a competent caregiver who can and will be responsible for administering the study drug. If there is no caregiver, another qualified individual must be available to administer the study drug.
8. Participant has established care with a neurologist and will maintain this clinical care throughout the study.
9. For females of reproductive potential: use of effective or highly effective contraception for at least one month prior to screening and agreement to use such a method during study participation and for an additional 8 weeks after the end of acamprosate administration. Participants of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test at screening.
10. For males of reproductive potential: use of condoms or other methods to ensure effective contraception with partner.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

An individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:

1. Dependence on daytime mechanical ventilation (invasive or non-invasive, including Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) or Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure (BiPAP) at the time of the screening visit.
2. Participation in any other investigational drug trial or using investigational drug(s) (within 4 weeks prior to the Day 0 visit and thereafter).
3. Participants must not become pregnant or breastfeed for the duration of the study. Participants of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test at screening and be non-lactating.
4. Men who are trying to become fathers or donate sperm.
5. History of positive test or positive result at screening for HIV.
6. History of severe sulfite allergy (i.e., anaphylaxis).
7. Presence of any of the following clinical conditions at the time of screening:

   1. Active drug abuse or alcoholism.
   2. Unstable medical condition that, in the opinion of the investigators, makes participation unsafe.
   3. Renal impairment estimated glomerular filtration rate \<=60mL/min/1.73m\^2.
   4. Unstable psychiatric illness defined as psychosis or untreated major depression within 90 days of the screening visit.
8. Safety Laboratory Criteria at the screening visit:

   1. Estimated glomerular filtration rate \<=60mL/min/1.73m\^2.
   2. Platelet concentration of \<100,000/microl.
   3. PT and PTT \>1.2 times the upper limit of normal.
   4. Hemoglobin \<10mg/dL.
   5. Positive Hepatitis B Surface Antigen and Hepatitis C Virus Antibody
9. Participants who are unable to swallow tablets whole, as required by the administration guidelines. This includes individuals with any medical condition or physical limitation that impedes their ability to swallow solid dosage forms.
10. Participants who are dependent on a gastrostomy tube for medication administration. Since acamprosate is in tablet form that cannot be crushed or altered, it is unsuitable for administration through a gastrostomy tube.

Where it's running

  • National Institutes of Health Clinical Center
    Bethesda, Maryland, United States
    Recruiting

Study contacts

  • Principal investigator: Justin Y Kwan, M.D. — National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
  • Study coordinator: Carol H Hoffman
  • Email: carol.hoffman@nih.gov
  • Phone: (301) 451-1229

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.