Clinical course of cardiomyopathy in people with Friedreich ataxia

Characteristics And Clinical Course Of Disease In Participants With Cardiomyopathy Associated With Friedreich Ataxia (CLARITY-FA)

Observational Lexeo Therapeutics · NCT06865482

This study follows people with Friedreich ataxia who have cardiomyopathy to see how their heart disease changes over time and to identify who may later be eligible for a gene therapy study.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Enrollment65 (estimated)
Ages6 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorLexeo Therapeutics Industry-sponsored
Locations14 sites (La Jolla, California and 13 other locations)
Trial IDNCT06865482 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

LX2006-02 is a prospective, longitudinal, low-intervention, multicenter study designed to define the nature and rate of cardiac disease progression in genetically confirmed FA-CM. Participants aged 6 years and older with confirmed GAA expansions, left ventricular hypertrophy, and an ejection fraction ≥40% undergo serial cardiac imaging (cMRI or echocardiography) and standardized clinical assessments. The protocol runs for at least 26 weeks at multiple U.S. centers to map changes in cardiac structure and function and capture markers of progression. Participants who meet eligibility criteria after this period may have the opportunity to enroll in a subsequent LX2006 interventional gene therapy study.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are people aged 6 or older with genetically confirmed Friedreich ataxia (symptom onset ≤25 years) who have left ventricular hypertrophy, an ejection fraction of at least 40%, and no other major structural or ischemic heart disease.

Not a fit: Patients with other causes of cardiomyopathy, significant coronary or primary valvular disease, current IV inotrope therapy, ventricular assist devices, prior heart transplant, or advanced heart failure are unlikely to benefit from this natural-history study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the study could improve understanding of how heart disease progresses in FA-CM and help identify patients who might benefit from gene therapy earlier.

How similar studies have performed: Previous natural-history studies in Friedreich ataxia have described cardiac involvement, but applying a prospective multicenter protocol specifically to select patients for a gene therapy program is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Male or female, ages ≥6 years at the time of signing the informed consent (and assent, if applicable).
* Diagnosis of FA, based on clinical phenotype and genotype (GAA expansion on both alleles or compound heterozygous), with onset of FA occurring at ≤25 years of age
* Confirmed left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH)
* Left ventricular ejection fraction ≥40%

Exclusion Criteria:

* Presence of other form(s) of CM contributing to heart failure (HF), clinically significant cardiac anatomic abnormality or congenital cardiac malformation, clinically significant coronary artery, uncorrected, hemodynamically significant primary structural valvular disease not due to CM
* Currently receiving intermittent or continuous intravenous (IV) inotrope infusion, presence of a ventricular assist device, or history of prior heart transplantation
* Contraindication to cMRI, participants \<12 years of age who cannot complete the cMRI without sedation will instead undergo ECHOs and are exempt from this criterion.
* Prior organ transplantation
* Initiation of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) within 6 months prior to screening.
* History of prior gene transfer or cell therapy.
* Poorly controlled diabetes (hemoglobin A1c ≥8%)
* Active hematologic or solid organ malignancy

Where this trial is running

La Jolla, California and 13 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Friedreich AtaxiaCardiomyopathyFA-CMFACardiac Disease
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.