Testing cenobamate for treating partial-onset seizures in children

A Phase I, Open-Label, Pharmacokinetic, Dose-Escalation Study of Cenobamate (YKP3089) in Pediatric Subjects With Partial-Onset Seizures

This study is testing how well cenobamate works and how safe it is for children with partial-onset seizures.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 1
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 24 (estimated)
• Ages: 2 Years to 18 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: SK Life Science, Inc. (Industry-sponsored)
• Locations: 14 sites (Phoenix, Arizona and 13 other locations)
• Trial ID: NCT04903314 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study evaluates the pharmacokinetics of cenobamate (YKP3089) in pediatric patients diagnosed with partial-onset seizures. It involves administering the medication in both single and multiple doses to assess how the drug is processed in the body. Additionally, the study aims to evaluate the safety and tolerability of cenobamate in this population. Participants will be closely monitored for any adverse effects during the treatment period.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates include children aged 2 to less than 18 years with a diagnosis of epilepsy characterized by partial-onset seizures.

Not a fit: Patients who do not have a diagnosis of partial-onset seizures or those who have not experienced treatment failure with at least two antiepileptic drugs may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could provide a new treatment option for children suffering from partial-onset seizures.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promise in using cenobamate for seizure management, indicating potential success for this approach.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Diagnosis of epilepsy with partial-onset seizures (POS) with or without secondarily generalized seizures according to the International League Against Epilepsy's (ILAE) Classification of Epileptic Seizures). A diagnosis should have been established at least 6 months prior to Visit 1 by clinical history and an electroencephalogram (EEG) that is consistent with the diagnosis; normal interictal EEGs will be allows provided that the participant meets the other diagnosis criterion (i.e., clinical history, including a history of treatment failure with at least 2 AEDs)
2. Male or female subjects, from age 2 to less than 18 years at the time of informed consent
3. Have a minimum weight of 10.0 kilograms (kg) (22.0 pounds \[lb\])
4. Written informed consent signed by the subject, legal guardian, or legally authorized representative (LAR) prior to entering the study in accordance with the ICH GCP guidelines. Age appropriate assent will be obtained for children and adolescents. If the written informed consent is provided by the legal guardian or LAR because the subject is unable to do so, a written or verbal assent from the subject must also be obtained
5. Are currently being treated with stable doses of 1 to a maximum of 2 approved antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Doses must be stable for at least 4 weeks before to Visit 1; in the case where a new AED regimen has been initiated for a participant, the dose must be stable for at least 8 weeks prior to Visit 1. A vagal nerve stimulator (VNS) will not be counted as one of the 2 allowable AEDs
6. In the Investigator's opinion, parents or caregivers must be able to report accurate seizure assessments during the screening and study periods and subjects must be able to ingest study drug
7. Subjects with an implanted vagal nerve stimulator will be allowed if the vagal nerve stimulator was implanted at least 5 months prior to Visit 1 (Screening) and the stimulator parameters have not been changed for 30 days prior to Visit 1 and for the duration of the study
8. Subjects following a ketogenic diet will be allowed as long as the diet has been stable for at least 30 days prior to Visit 1 (Screening) and will remain stable for the duration of the study

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Progressive neurological disease, including degenerative CNS diseases and progressive tumors
2. Evidence of clinically significant disease or any medical condition that would compromise the subject's ability to safely complete the study including, but not limited to, hepatic or renal failure, ischemic disease, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, active sexually transmitted disease (STD), active viral hepatitis, or malignancy
3. Positive urine screen of drugs of abuse (if not due to concomitant medication, e.g., benzodiazepines as hypnotics) for Cohort 1 subjects.
4. History of anoxic episodes require resuscitation within 6 months before Visit 1, drug or alcohol dependency or abuse within approximately the last 2 years or use of illegal recreational drugs.
5. Any surgical or medical condition that may interfere with the absorption, distribution, metabolism, or excretion of the investigational product
6. Consumption of any caffeine-containing products (e.g., coffee, tea, chocolate, or soda) or alcoholic beverages within 72 hours before Day 1 and 72 hours before the day of multiple dose PK sampling (Day 59 for Cohort I)
7. Consumption of grapefruit or grapefruit-containing products within 72 hours before Day 1 and 72 hours before the day of multiple dose PK sampling (Day 59 for Cohort I)
8. Significant clinical laboratory abnormalities, including elevation of serum AST or ALT more than 2 times the upper limit or normal (ULN) for each age group.
9. Acute disease state (e.g., nausea, vomiting, fever, or diarrhea) within 7 days before Day 1
10. Scheduled for surgery during the study
11. Ketogenic diet or vagal nerve stimulation that has undergone alteration within 30 days of Visit 1
12. Treatment with an investigational drug or device (other than VNS) ≤ 30 days before Visit 1
13. Females who are breastfeeding or pregnant at Screening or Baseline or who are of reproductive age and do not agree to be abstinent or to use highly effective methods of contraception
14. Current or history of pseudo-seizures (psychogenic nonepileptic seizures) within approximately 5 years before Visit 1
15. Have a history of status epilepticus that required hospitalization during the 6 months before Visit 1
16. Have an unstable psychiatric diagnosis that may confound participants' ability to participate in the study or that may prevent completion of the protocol-specified tests (e.g., in the judgement of the investigator, pose an appreciable risk for suicide, including suicidal behavior and ideation within 6 months before Visit 1, current psychotic disorder, acute mania)
17. Any suicidal ideation with intent or without a plan within 6 months before Visit 2 in participants aged 6 and above.
18. Evidence of clinically significant disease (e.g., cardiac, respiratory, gastrointestinal, renal disease) that in the opinion of the investigator could affect the participant's safety or interfere with study assessments
19. Evidence of significant hematological disease; white blood cell (WBC) count equal or less than 2500/μL (2.50 1E+09/L) or an absolute neutrophil count equal or less than 1000/μL (1.00 1E+09/L)
20. Clinically significant electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormality, including prolonged corrected QT interval (QTc) defined as greater than 450 msec or shortened corrected QT interval (QTc) defined as less than 350 msec
21. Subject has a history or any serious drug-induced hypersensitivity reaction (including, but not limited to, Stevens Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, or DRESS) or any drug-related rash requiring hospitalization.
22. History or AED-associated rash that involved conjunctiva or mucosae
23. History of more than one non-serious drug-related hypersensitivity reaction that required discontinuation of the medication
24. Concomitant use of phenytoin and clobazam as these drugs may influence cenobamate plasma exposure. Subjects who took phenytoin or clobazam in the past must be off these drugs for at least 30 days prior to Visit 1.
25. Concomitant use of vigabatrin. Participants who took vigabatrin in the past must be off vigabatrin for at least 5 months before Visit 1 and with documentation showing no evidence of vigabatrin-associated clinically significant abnormality in a visual perimetry test
26. A history of intermittent use of rescue benzodiazepines (i.e., 1 to 2 doses over a 24-hour period is considered a 1- time rescue) more than twice within the 30 days prior to Visit 1 (Screening)
27. A VNS implanted less than 5 months before Visit 1 or changes in parameter less than 30 days before Visit 1 (or thereafter during the study)
28. Presence of Familial short QT syndrome or relevant replicated QTc interval (QTcF less than 340 msec or greater than 450 msec in males and greater than 470 msec in females) on electrocardiogram (ECG)

Where this trial is running

Phoenix, Arizona and 13 other locations

• Phoenix Children's Hospital — Phoenix, Arizona, United States (Recruiting)
• Mid-Atlantic Epilepsy and Sleep Center — Bethesda, Maryland, United States (Recruiting)
• Missouri University Pediatric and Adolescent Specialty Clinic — Columbia, Missouri, United States (Terminated)
• Northeast Regional Epilepsy Group — Hackensack, New Jersey, United States (Recruiting)
• Northeast Regional Epilepsy Group — Morristown, New Jersey, United States (Recruiting)
• Duke University — Durham, North Carolina, United States (Recruiting)
• Cincinnati Children's Hospital — Cincinnati, Ohio, United States (Recruiting)
• Le Bonheur Children's Hospital — Memphis, Tennessee, United States (Recruiting)
• MultiCare Institute - Mary Bridge Children's Neurology — Tacoma, Washington, United States (Recruiting)
• I. Sz. Gyermekgyógyászati Klinika — Budapest, Hungary (Recruiting)
• Chungbuk National University Hospital — Cheonju, Korea, Republic of (Recruiting)
• Seoul National University Hospital — Seoul, Korea, Republic of (Recruiting)
• Severance Hospital — Seoul, Korea, Republic of (Recruiting)
• Ajou University Hospital — Suwon, Korea, Republic of (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Meagan Whritner

Conditions Partial Epilepsy; Partial-onset seizures; Pediatrics