Evaluating ulixacaltamide for treating essential tremor

Phase 3, Decentralized, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled, Parallel Design, Randomized Withdrawal, and Long-term Safety Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Ulixacaltamide (PRAX-944) in Adults With Essential Tremor

This study is testing if a new medication called ulixacaltamide can help people with essential tremor feel better compared to a placebo.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 3
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 600 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 85 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Praxis Precision Medicines (Industry-sponsored)
• Locations: 1 site (Morgantown, West Virginia)
• Trial ID: NCT06087276 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical study aims to compare the safety and efficacy of ulixacaltamide against a placebo in patients with essential tremor (ET). Participants will be enrolled in one of two pivotal Phase 3 studies, receiving either ulixacaltamide or a placebo for up to 12 weeks. Following the controlled phase, eligible participants may join a long-term safety study to continue receiving ulixacaltamide. The study employs a decentralized approach, allowing for broader participation.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates include adults with a clinical diagnosis of essential tremor who are stable on their current medications.

Not a fit: Patients who are not diagnosed with essential tremor or those who have recently changed their medication regimen may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could significantly improve the quality of life for patients suffering from essential tremor.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies evaluating treatments for essential tremor have shown promise, but this specific approach with ulixacaltamide is novel.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Has a body mass index (BMI) at Screening of ≥18 kg/m2.
2. Has a clinical diagnosis of ET confirmed during screening and characterized by postural and action tremor.
3. If currently receiving medication prescribed for ET, must be on ≤1 medications, on stable dose(s) for at least 1 month prior to Screening, and willing to maintain stable dose(s) throughout the study. As needed (PRN) use of prescribed ET medicines is not allowed with the exception of propranolol PRN. Participants prescribed propranolol PRN are eligible but must discontinue the PRN dose after the first day of screening. Primidone use is not allowed within 2 weeks prior to screening and throughout duration of study.
4. Women of childbearing potential must undertake pregnancy tests, with a documented negative serum pregnancy test at Screening, negative urine pregnancy tests at Baseline (Day 1) prior to administration of study drug, throughout the intervention periods (as outlined in the SoA) and at the SFU or ED Visit, as appropriate.
5. Is willing and able to use contraception as defined in the protocol and ICF.
6. Has been assessed as an appropriate and suitable candidate by investigator and has a neurological exam and medical record(s) consistent with ET diagnosis, as confirmed by the ERC central reviewer.
7. Confirm key inclusion criteria at Baseline

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Neuropathy, muscle weakness, arthropathy or other musculoskeletal diagnosis of the upper extremity that impairs dexterity or function.
2. Has a known hypersensitivity to any component of the formulation of ulixacaltamide.
3. Is unwilling or unable to refrain from episodic use of medication(s)/substance(s) that might interfere with the evaluation of tremor during the study.
4. Is sporadically using a benzodiazepine, sleep medication or anxiolytic (as further defined in the protocol), that in the judgement of the investigator or sponsor would confound the assessment of tremor.
5. Has trauma to the nervous system within 3 months preceding the onset of tremor.
6. Has a history of unilateral tremor or clinical evidence of another medical, neurological, or psychiatric condition that may explain or cause tremor, including but not limited to Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, Alzheimer's disease, stroke with neurologic sequelae, intention tremor (IT) caused by etiology other than ET, cerebellar disease (including spinocerebellar ataxias), primary dystonia, Fragile X Tremor/Ataxia syndrome or family history of Fragile X syndrome, traumatic brain injury, psychogenic tremor, alcohol or benzodiazepine abuse or withdrawal, multiple sclerosis, polyneuropathy (diabetic neuropathy allowed if disease does not affect gait or balance and does not involve upper extremity), and endocrine states such as uncontrolled or inadequately treated hypothyroidism, food, or supplement induced movement disorders (e.g., tremor related to beta agonists or caffeine), or other medical, neurological, or psychiatric conditions that may explain or cause tremor.
7. Has had prior magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound or surgical intervention for ET such as a deep brain stimulator (DBS) or lesion therapy such as thalamotomy.
8. Has had botulinum toxin injection for ET in the 6 months prior to Screening or throughout the study.
9. Is using the Cala trio health device for ET in 14 days prior to Screening or throughout the study.
10. Is unwilling or unable to refrain from drinking alcohol 24 hours before and during clinical study assessments, or regular use of alcohol that would preclude abstinence from alcohol for this time period around visits.
11. Has a history of substance use disorder consistent with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition Text Revision (DSM-5-TR) criteria. Participants with a previous diagnosis of substance use disorder who have been in remission for at least 2 years can participate in the study.
12. Is currently pregnant or breastfeeding or is planning to become pregnant during the clinical trial or within 31 days of the last study drug dose.
13. Is currently taking a prescription or non-prescription product(s) and food known to be moderate or strong inhibitors or strong inducers (moderate inducers are not prohibited) of cytochrome P450 (CYP3A4), which cannot be discontinued at least 5 half-lives or 14 days prior (whichever is the longer period of time) to Baseline and withheld throughout the clinical study.
14. Has received any experimental or investigational drug, device, or other therapy within 30 days or 5 half-lives (whichever is longer) prior to Screening.
15. Has any of the following abnormal test results at Screening: a serum total bilirubin value \>1.5×upper limit of normal (ULN); a serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or aspartate aminotransferase (AST) value \>2×ULN. As an exception, participants that present with elevated bilirubin in the absence of elevations in ALT or AST that fits the pattern of Gilbert's syndrome may be enrolled after discussion with the medical monitor and/or sponsor designee if their conjugated bilirubin is below the ULN.
16. History of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection or positive screening result for: HIV 1 or 2 antibodies, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) or hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb), or hepatitis C virus antibody (HCVAb).
17. History of long QT syndrome and/or a Fridericia formula corrected QT interval (QTcF) interval \>450 msec (males) or \>460 msec (females) per electrocardiogram (ECG) done at Screening.
18. Any major psychiatric disorder, including but not limited to depression and anxiety, that is uncontrolled (for the past 90 days) or, in the investigator's judgment, can interfere with any of the study procedures.
19. Has a lifetime history of any suicide attempt, or suicidal ideation with intent within the past 2 years prior to Screening.
20. Participants who have a history of malignancy, myeloproliferative or lymphoproliferative disorders within the past 5 years prior to screen are excluded.

    Exceptions:
    * Participants with completely excised non-melanoma skin cancer (such as basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma) or cervical carcinoma in situ are permitted at any time.
    * Participants with a history of other malignancies deemed cured by adequate treatment are also permitted at any time.
21. Has any other significant disease or disorder including but not limited to uncontrolled seizure or epilepsy, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, renal disease, laboratory abnormalities, or environmental factor that, in the opinion of the investigator or sponsor designee, may either put the participant at risk due to participation in the clinical trial, may influence or confound the result of the clinical trial, or may affect the participant's ability to participate in the clinical trial. Uncontrolled epilepsy or seizure is exclusionary and is defined as a seizure or epilepsy diagnosed by a medical clinician and a documented seizure or change in seizure medication (medication or dose) in the last 2 years. An estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of \<60 using the 2021 Chronic Kidney Disease-Epidemiology (CKD-EPI) formula mL/min/1.73m2 or urine albumin creatinine ratio (uACR) of ≥ 30 mg/g is exclusionary.
22. Participant has a positive alcohol or drug screening (including cannabis and cannabis-derived products). The participant can be enrolled in the study, if they are willing to stop use of cannabis or cannabis-related products after the Screening Visit and have a negative cannabidiol (CBD) screen result at Baseline (Day 1). A positive amphetamine, benzodiazepine or opioid drug screening result could be allowed if it is determined that the result is a false positive (for example caused by another medication), or if the result is due to a documented prescribed medication (for example: benzodiazepine or opioid) that in the opinion of the investigator or sponsor designee, is prescribed for a medical condition that aligns with standard of care, is not associated with substance abuse and the investigator's assessment determines that the medical condition and medication dose is stable and expected to remain stable throughout the trial.
23. History of or evidence of psychogenic tremor
24. Prior participation in an ulixacaltamide clinical trial at any time or other clinical trial evaluating a potential drug for ET in the past 6 months (with the exception of participants with documentation that they received placebo treatment only), with the exception of participants that are currently enrolled in and complete the EOT visit in PRAX-944-222 extension period.

Where this trial is running

Morgantown, West Virginia

• United BioSource LLC — Morgantown, West Virginia, United States (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Head of Pharmacovigilance, Praxis Precision Medicines

Conditions Essential Tremor; Movement Disorder; Benign Essential Tremor; Familial Tremor; Hereditary Essential Tremor; Movement Disorder Agents; Calcium Channels, T-type