Aprepitant for CLIFAHDD in young children and adults
Official title: Channeling Hope Trial 1: A Phase 1, Open-label, Dose Escalation Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics (PK) of Chronic Aprepitant Use in Individuals With Congenital Contractures of the Limbs and Face, Hypotonia, and Development Delay (CLIFAHDD)
Run by The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio · NCT07845825 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This early-phase, safety-focused study tests whether aprepitant can be safely taken daily by people with CLIFAHDD to see if it’s tolerable and may help daily living.
Quick facts
| Phase | Early Phase 1 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Ages | 6 Months and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 5 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Academic / other |
| Drugs / interventions | imatinib, axitinib, chemotherapy |
| Locations | 1 site (San Antonio, Texas) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | October 31, 2026 |
| Main results expected | May 31, 2027 |
| Study ends | July 31, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | November 5, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07845825 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are individuals with CLIFAHDD confirmed by genetics and clinical assessment, possessing a predicted gain-of-function NALCN variant, and whose caregivers can commit to the regimen and travel for study visits.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients without a qualifying NALCN gain-of-function variant or with medical conditions that contraindicate aprepitant 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 trial investigates the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of chronic aprepitant use in individuals with CLIFAHDD, a rare neurodevelopmental disorder caused by NALCN mutations. Participants aged over 6 months and weighing more than 6 kg will receive an oral powder form of aprepitant for a defined period with close monitoring. The study also explores potential pharmacodynamic biomarkers related to the NALCN pathway and how the drug might affect daily functioning and quality of life. It is conducted at UT Health San Antonio with a focus on safety data and preliminary signals of effect to inform future research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If safe and tolerable, aprepitant could become a foundation for future treatments that may improve symptoms or daily functioning in CLIFAHDD.
How similar studies have gone: This is an early-phase, repurposing approach with preclinical support; prior studies in other conditions support safety of aprepitant but human data in CLIFAHDD are novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Diagnosis of CLIFAHDD (confirmed by clinical and genetic report per best practices) 2. NALCN variant with predicted NALCN gain-of-function in established functional assays and/or computational assessments 3. Age \>6 months at the time of initial consent/assent 4. Weight \>6kg at the time of initial consent/assent 5. Ability of participant or Legally Authorized Representative (LAR) to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document. 6. For children (\<18y at time of consent/assent), informed assent (if developmentally appropriate) and parental informed consent to participate in the study 7. Willingness to comply with all study-related requirements, including Aprepitant regimen and travel to San Antonio, TX for specified visits 8. Has adequate organ functions as defined by the following laboratory parameters at baseline (laboratory parameters outside of these ranges that are deemed clinically insignificant should be discussed with the Independent Safety Monitor): 1. Absolute neutrophil count ≥1000 cells/uL; 2. hemoglobin ≥8.5 g/dL; 3. platelet count ≥100,000/mm3; 4. aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤2.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN); 5. total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x institutional ULN (exception: subjects with known Gilbert's syndrome and total bilirubin ≤2 x institutional ULN at screening or anytime during the prior 6 months are eligible); 6. adequate renal function defined as calculated creatinine clearance \>60 mL/min using the Cockcroft Gault Method; 7. acceptable coagulation parameters including international normalized ratio (INR) \<1.4 and partial thromboplastin time (PTT) ≤ 1.5 x institutional ULN; 8. serum albumin ≥3.0 g/dL 9. Women of child-bearing age participants must use highly effective forms of birth control defined as those with a failure rate of \< 1% per year. Acceptable methods include: complete sexual abstinence (anticipated given severity of neurodevelopmental symptoms in CLIFAHDD), combined hormonal contraceptives, progestogen-only hormonal contraceptives, intrauterine devices (IUDs), intrauterine hormone-releasing systems (IUS), bilateral tubal occlusion, or vasectomized partner (provided the partner is the sole sexual partner). Exclusion Criteria: 1. Known hypersensitivity to any component of the study treatment formulation(s) 2. Concomitant use of pimozide, terfenadine, astemizole, cisapride, flibanserin, lomitapide (contraindicated CYP3A4 substrate) 3. Concomitant use of strong (Clarithromycin, telithromycin, nefazodone, itraconazole, ketoconazole, atazanavir, darunavir, indinavir, lopinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir, tipranavir) or moderate (amiodarone, erythromycin, fluconazole, miconazole, diltiazem, verapamil, delavirdine, amprenavir, fosamprenavir, conivaptan, danazol, ketoconazole) CYP3A4 inhibitors and strong CYP3A4 inducers (apalutamide, carbamazepine, dexamethasone, enzalutamide, fosphenytoin, lumacaftor, midostaurin, mitotane, pentobarbital, phenobarbital, rifampin, phenytoin) or CYP3A4 substrates (Docetaxel, paclitaxel, etoposide, irinotecan, ifosfamide, imatinib, vinorelbine, vinblastine, vincristine, colchicine, axitinib). Participants on one of these medications but unable to discontinue for the trial and considered otherwise low risk should be discussed with the Independent Safety Monitor but may be considered for enrollment. 4. Concomitant use of high-risk cytochrome P450 family 2 subfamily C member 9 (CYP2C9) substrates (e.g., warfarin or phenytoin or tolbutamide) 5. Patients who are medically unstable or have been hospitalized for an acute medical condition in the 3 months prior to the first active drug visit 6. Patients who are acutely ill in the hospital or intensive care unit (ICU) 7. Any other history of clinically significant acute or chronic neurologic disease, respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal disease, liver disease, renal disease, endocrine disorder, infectious disease, or any other medical or psychiatric condition that in the opinion of the investigator or study clinician will significantly increase the safety risk for the subject or confound the interpretation of the study data. 8. Currently receiving any other investigational agents or has received study treatment or used an investigational device within 30 days of the first dose of treatment 9. Caregivers unwilling to follow study procedures or follow protocol as outlined. 10. Pregnancy
Where it's running
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UT Health San Antonio - Center for Brain Health
San Antonio, Texas, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Megan Iammarino, DPT — The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
- Study coordinator: Carolyn Paiz
- Email: paizc@uthscsa.edu
- Phone: 210-450-7547
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.